Guyana Times, 04 September 2017

Rice harvesting commences in Region 2 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

P2

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, September 4, 2017

Issue No. 3322

Oil sector

PRICE

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Page 3

Exxon will submit Local Content Plan by year-end - in accordance with 6-month Govt deadline

$80 vat included

DDL records $936M aftertax profit P7

Senior Director of Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington

2 injured in fall from 3-storey building Page 10

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

In North West

P7

Fisherman missing after boat accident Lindeners stage 2nd “March against Sodomy” P12

The three-storey building at Vreed-en-Hoop from which the two construction workers fell

Injured: Safraz Mkeed

Driver critical after Fire destroys building Mon Repos accident near fuel bond - in Essequibo

Page 10

CPG rank, P14 son arrested for stabbing estate worker

Page 8

Region 7 hit by another violent storm Page 12

Schools reopen today P8

2 News

monDAY, september 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rice harvesting commences in Region 2

– millers still to decide prices

By Indrawattie Natram

R

ice harvesting has commenced in several villages along the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), and farmers from Capoey, Queenstown and Affiance have expressed satisfaction with their yields, but are concerned at the pricing and grading systems.

One farmer from Capoey who took his “loads of paddy” to Imam Bacchus and Sons has reported not receiving any price for the loads he took.

“You see, the thing about paddy (is) you really can’t store it for too long, so you have to take it straight to the available millers,” the

farmer explained.

Other farmers have called on relevant authorities in the agricultural sector to represent their interest. They have also expressed concern at the weighing system.

One rice farmer has said different mills have ‘different weights,’ even as he called on officials from the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) to look into both the grading and weighing systems.

Contacted by this newspaper, a representative from Imam Bacchus and Sons explained that the company is accepting paddy, but the purchase price is yet to be decided on. The representative explained that prices of-

A rice field being harvested by a combine

fered farmers are influenced by prices offered by “bigger millers” and the markets for rice.

A representative from Golden Fleece Rice Investment, owned by Nazeemul Hakh, explained

that that entity also has not yet decided on its purchasing price for paddy, because it is waiting on other millers

to bring out prices. Golden Fleece Rice Investment was the largest purchaser of paddy from rice farmers during the last crop. Rice farmers are currently taking their paddy to mills without any idea what they would be offered. Last crop, they were offered $2000 to $2500 per bag, and most of them were given low grades. The lowest grades (C grade) were purchased at $1500 per bag.

Rice farmers are hoping that millers would be more loyal to them this crop, and offer them better prices so that the industry can be sustained. Region Two is predominately an agricultural region, with more than 38,000 acres of land under rice cultivation.

CH&PA housing solutions

Onderneeming to get 40 new houses … Police, CH&PA still probing housing fraud in Region

T

A rice field on the Essequibo Coast being harvested

he Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) is expected to begin construction on some 40 houses at Onderneeming, on the Essequibo Coast in Region 2 (Pomeroon-Supenaam), according to Junior Communities Minister, Valerie Adams-Yearwood.

Construction is expected to commence in the following month.

Minister AdamsYearwood, during an outreach in the Region, said the houses are to fulfill the needs of State employees, youths and low to middle-income earners adding that of the 40 houses, half will be flat houses, which will be three feet off the ground,

Junior Communities Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood

Deputy Regional Housing Officer Safeia Razak

Regional Housing Officer Omesh Sasenarayan

and the other half will be on stilts (columns).

The houses would be sold at $6.1M and $7.1M respectively and includes the cost of the house-lot. The Minister indicated that thus far, four persons have shown interest in acquiring the houses and that the CH&PA have already initiated the process.

“The persons who indicated their interest in the houses that we are going to build, we have issued them with letters to go to the commercial banks here to be prequalified for those houses,” she explained.

Some 758 units of 530 duplexes and 228 town houses will be built under this government, to maxi-

mize land use and increase affordability, while building cohesive communities in 10 locations across six regions. The construction of the houses is a part of the government’s plan to make affordable housing available to every citizen particularly public sector employees and youths. turn to page 7

news

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monDAY, september 4, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, September 4 – a night-time retraction at 03:30h and a daytime retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Tuesday, September 5 – a night-time retraction at 04:00h and a daytime retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, September 4 – 15:15h-16:45h and Tuesday, September 5 – 15:55h-17:25h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times - 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Sunny conditions in the early morning will be followed by heavy rain showers, with a return to sunny skies in the late afternoon hours and clear skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-easterly to North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 1.78 metres.

High Tide: 15:34h reaching a maximum height of 2.49 metres.

Oil sector

Exxon will submit Local Content Plan by year-end - in accordance with 6-month Govt deadline

By Jarryl Bryan

I

nternational oil giant ExxonMobil has indicated its intention to toe the proverbial line and submit its Local Content Plan by December of this year, in accordance with a Governmentstipulated deadline.

This document will chronicle all the company plans to do for the individual development of the people of Guyana.

According to the Senior Director of Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington, the

adding that the Local Content Plan will focus on development.

Local Content

The Local Content Plan and what it will do for Guyana has been a burning question since it was announced that oil was found in the Stabroek Block. Expectations were initially tempered by statements to the effect that few job opportunities would be created by commercial exploitation of this oil find, but the company has since said it will help with Local Content delivery.

Low Tide: 09:07h and 21:24h reaching minimum heights of 0.70 metre and 0.71 metre respectively.

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Exxon’s operations in the Stabroek Block

company will be adhering to the deadline and submit its plan exactly six months after being granted its production licence.

Authorities have reviewed the technical and environmental aspects of the Liza Project Development Plan submitted by Exxon affiliate Esso Exploration and Production (Guyana) Ltd in December 2016. Following those reviews, Government had granted the oil giant a formal production licence in June.

“So that’s December (when we are scheduled to submit our plan). We are required to submit our Local Content Plan to the Government six months from the (date of) approval of the production licence,” Brasington explained,

When ExxonMobil was granted a production licence in June of this year, Minister Trotman had given the company a six-month deadline in which to submit its Local Content Plan to the Government.

ExxonMobil’s newly appointed Guyana Country Manager, Rod Henson, had recently announced that the company would be relocating its onshore operations, which were used for support services, from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana.

He had told participants at a meeting it was not the case that ExxonMobil would be looking to build a facility for its support services, but would rather put out tenders, and anyone interested in pro-

Senior Director of Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington

viding the shore-based services could present a proposal.

Trotman had, in 2016, announced that Cabinet had given its ‘no objection’ to the establishment of the onshore industrial site on Crab Island, in the mouth of the Berbice River. He had said it would be forged through the joint efforts of the ministries of Natural Resources, Public Infrastructure and Business.

Construction was announced for early this year, and the investments from the private sector and Government’s infrastructural work and support were to be equivalent to US$500 million; but the Crab Island facility is yet to materialise.

According to information released in March by the Government’s Department of Public Information (DPI), the construction of an onshore oiland-gas facility seeks to cater to the expansion of explora-

Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman

tion and subsequent production of oil in Guyana.

That report had said Government would be investing US$500 million to construct the onshore facility during the course of this year, and that the facility would serve as a logistics and supply base to the offshore production, creating crucial areas of opportunity for Local Content.

What is happening now is that an onshore facility to service Exxon is being constructed by Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI) at Houston, EBD. GYSBI is acting in partnership with Muneshwer’s Limited, Pacific Rim Constructors, Total Tech Oil Field Services, and LED Offshore.

Guyana’s policy

For its part, Guyana has formulated its own draft Local Content Policy, which was seen by this publication. turn to page 9

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guyanatimesgy.com

monday, September 4, 2017

Views Anna Regina sunrise Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Amerindian Land Heritage

I

t is now more than two decades since the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration announced in 1995 that henceforth, the month of September would be designated “Amerindian Heritage Month” and that the Guyanese State would launch a series of activities annually to bring to the consciousness and weave into the rich tapestry of Guyana, the heritage of our Indigenous peoples.

Locked away in the hinterland from the plantation-colonised coastal region, it was a case of “out of sight, out of mind” to the 90 per cent of the populace resident here.

Every year since 1995, Amerindian Heritage Month was given a theme, with “Guyana’s first peoples – Sustaining a rich cultural environment,” being the one for 2017. This theme is rather ironic since the “cultural environment” of the Indigenous peoples is inextricably bound up with their land, and their rights to the latter have been subjected to extremely gratuitous attacks from members of the present administration.

Unlike the descendants of Columbus and those they colonised and hegemonised, the Indigenous peoples view the land they occupy as sacred since they are sustained in every way through the crops they can grow, the animals they can hunt or fish, the shelters they can build, the cotton fabric they can cover their nakedness with and the herbs from the forest that provide medicines to cure their ailments. Like most modern men, our coastlanders can learn the true meaning of “environmental consciousness” from our Indigenous peoples who have not been completely brainwashed as most of us are into believing the earth is to be raped and ravished.

What the Government is attempting to undermine – through stratagems such as attempting to subsume Amerindian Land Rights under a Commission of Inquiry into “African Ancestral Land Rights” and wild claims that some Indigenous peoples are not actually “indigenous” to Guyana – is the authoritative legal acknowledgement of Amerindian Land Rights. Unlike what one presidential advisor asserted, the lands which Indigenous peoples have been given, can be given title to and are not “reparations” for any past actions of the departed European powers, but an acknowledgement of their rights over land to which they are spiritually and culturally connected. The Dutch, whose rights the British assumed, never conquered but made treaties with the Indigenous peoples.

In 1965, the first Amerindian Member of Parliament, Stephen Campbell accompanied the People’s National Congress (PNC) delegation, headed by Forbes Burnham, to London to negotiate the terms of Guyana’s imminent independence. Annex C of the Independence Agreement stipulated that the independent government provide legal ownership or rights of occupancy for Amerindians over: “areas and reservations or parts thereof where any tribe or community of Amerindians is now ordinarily resident or settled and other legal rights, such as the rights of passage, in respect of any other lands they now by tradition or custom de facto enjoy freedoms and permissions corresponding to rights of that nature.”

By 1976, the Amerindian Act passed by the then PNC Government to give effect to Annex C, resulted in some Amerindian villages obtaining title to their lands. But it was not until a new Amerindian Act was passed by the PPP Government in 2006 that the full meaning of Annex C was given meaning. Unlike the allusions as to when any particular Amerindian tribe arrived in Guyana, Article 60 (1) of the Act declares simply, “An Amerindian Community may apply in writing to the Minister for a grant of State lands provided – (a) it has been in existence for at least twentyfive years; (b) at the time of the application and for the immediately preceding five years, it comprised at least one hundred and fifty persons.”

Emphasising the spiritual and cultural nexus with their lands, Article 62 (2) states, “In making a decision the Minister shall…consider the extent to which the Amerindian Village or Community has demonstrated a physical, traditional, cultural association with or spiritual attachment to the land requested.”

It is hoped the Government will use the State apparatus to educate the Guyanese people on the above.

The sun rises in Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)

Time to end this charade of ancestral land claim Dear Editor, Former President Bharrat Jagdeo is right in stating that the CoI into ancestral land and the entire way the matter is being handled will worsen ethnic relations (Guyana Times, August 27).

Scholars I have spoken with say no group other than Amerindians have rightful claim to ancestral land title.

The definition of the term ancestral land refers to an original entitlement, possession and occupation of land by an indigenous people.

Since Afro-Guyanese, like Indos, Portuguese, Chinese, and Mixed, are immigrant groups, they cannot make a claim to ancestral title. The Amerindians have ancestral land rights because they are considered the native people, and they are custodians or guardians of the ancestral lands.

A few Africans claim that their ancestors came to Guyana before the Amerindians, and thus have ancestral title. They quote discredited research from some writers who also say

Africans went to outer space hundreds of years ago, and that Africans had nuclear bombs long before whites.

Some Indians also feel that Indians had space shuttles hundreds of years ago.

All of those who peddle such idiotic claims need to get a reality check. Neither Africans nor Indians had space shuttles or nuclear weapons hundreds of years ago.

Indians, Africans, and others have had to acquire title (purchase or being given by the state) to land post slavery, since they cannot make a claim to ancestral land. These groups were brought to the colony to do the work of the white colonial rulers, and they subsequently acquired land.

Some squatted on land after slavery ended because they could not afford to purchase land. Some freed Africans bought land with savings from the apprenticeship period. The mere fact that Africans bought land after slavery renders moot any argument that Africans have ancestral right to land.

There are some who assert that Indians and Portuguese took away African lands during or after indentureship. There is no evidence to support such a contention, and it never happened. Research reveals that Africans owned more land than Indians and Portuguese during the indentureship period. The Indians bought land from Africans and the planters during and after indentureship.

It is worth noting that land was never given to Indians during or after indentureship. In exchange for a return passage to India, a plot of land was disbursed to some Indians (a fraction of one per cent of the 239,000 who were indentured) that were much less in value to the return boat passage of about $50 at that time. Thus Indians were cheated of that $50. And in many cases, the land was virtually useless (and abandoned) and hardly worth a few dollars. This fraud gives the descendants of the ancestral victims a right to make a claim for

land as compensation.

The fact that Indians purchased or leased land from Africans for farming during and after indentureship suggests that Africans owned more land than Indians, and supports the argument that Indians did not take anyone’s land. Land was deeded by the colonial state to Indians and others who purchased it. Those who make a claim to land or a village or estate would have had a deed.

Had Indians pooled their return passage, savings and financial incentives for re-indenture (in excess of $4 million at the time), they would have been able to purchase over 125 estates (of roughly 500 acres each estate) similar to how Africans bought a few estates.

It is time to end this charade of ancestral land claim, and leave the Amerindians with their rightful land, rather than worsen racial division of country.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

MOnday, September 4, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Mexico breaks world record with 3-tonne guacamole T

he recipe for a record-breaking guacamole? 25,000 avocados and 1000 people to mash them.

That is what avocado growers in Mexico’s Jalisco state mobilised on Sunday to break the world record for the biggest guacamole, a whopping three tonnes (6600 lbs) of delicious dip made from “green gold”.

The mass mash-up was part entertainment and part politicking, as growers and Mexico make the point that they – and the guacamole loving Americans – have benefited from the North American Free Trade Agreement that is now under threat from US President Donald Trump.

Negotiators from Canada, Mexico and the United States were meeting in the Mexican capital this weekend to revamp the 23-year-old NAFTA accord

the Guinness Book of World Records.

US negotiators have said they want to include provisions to make it easier for US seasonal produce growers to be able to file anti-dumping cases against Mexico.

That idea has been criticised by US restaurants and retailers, who say it would drive up prices.

Mexican growers of the fruit say US production of avocado could not meet demand.

“The imports of avocados from Mexico have not cost one single job to the domestic industry [in the United States],” said Ramon Paz, the spokesman for Michoacan’s growers. (Reuters)

Volunteers from a culinary school mix mashed avocados as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico on September 3, 2017

that Trump has threatened to end if he does not get concessions to curb a trade deficit with Mexico.

Some 80 per cent of US avocado consumption comes from Mexico’s growing expanse of orchards. Jalisco

has become the second biggest producer of the Hass variety in Mexico behind Michoacan state, according to producers.

More than 600 student chefs and 400 people from the rural town of Concepcion

de Buenos Aires prepared the traditional dish for thousands people, many of whom came from the Jalisco state capital of Guadalajara.

The state’s Governor was on hand to receive recognition from a representative of

Avocados are pictured as volunteers from a culinary school attempt to set the new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Mexico

‘Bluff’ is not a substitute for real talent Dear Editor, As a financial analyst, I want to express my deep gratitude to the teams in the Ministry of Finance and the Research Department at the Bank of Guyana for a job well done in producing their respective half-year reports for 2017.

But the story from the numbers is not very encouraging. 1: When you want foreign currency, then the rate that applies to you is called the selling rate. The average selling rate for the US dollar depreciated by $5.40 against the US dollar in six months, between January and June 2017. That was a decline in value of almost a dollar a month.

2: If one observes the depreciation rate over this sixmonth period, the Guyana dollar depreciated by 2.9%, while the TT dollar and Jamaica dollar depreciated by 1.8% and 1.7% respectively.

3: The difference in the average buying rate between the banks and the

non-bank cambios increased from G$0.81 at the end of 2016 to G$3.44 at the end of June 2017. Can this be one of the reasons why some US$6.2 million less were sold to the banking system

by John Public? Or was it a case of money being moved into the underground economy?

4: What is absolutely clear is that the Bank of Guyana, in the first six months, refused to reveal how much foreign currency it had injected into the local financial system. But to get a glimpse of what is happening, one only has to peruse the Bank of Guyana’s Balance Sheet. The Central Bank has lost about US$20 million in foreign asset value over the six months to June 2017. To confirm the position of this balance sheet, there is a corresponding increase in other local assets. This is a clear indication of the size of the foreign currency injection into the system, and that is a major shift from the first six months of 2015, when it was

reported that the Central Bank had injected US$0.7 million into the system in that 6-month period.

5: Using Professor Erbe’s model, which is also used by the World Bank, and the Balance of Payment figures released by the Ministry of Finance as the source of the input figures, capital flight in the first six months of 2017 was estimated at US$53 million. In case we did not know it, capital flight is a real phenomenon in Guyana today, and by way of a process of for-

eign currency arbitrage and transfer pricing, the local business community is moving boatloads of money offshore. As Rome burns, Nero fiddles; carry on Mr Jordan.

Now, having these figures and the two reports at our disposal, any policy-maker would have reflected deeply on changing course swiftly; because, clearly, what the doctor has ordered since May 2015 does not appear to be working.

I am again appealing to President Granger; it is his duty to appoint Minister

Carl Greenidge to be the Minister of Finance. This guy has the experience, the exposure, the talent, and training to improve the performance of this economy. He may not be as talented and skilled as Ashni Singh or Bharrat Jagdeo, but he is many times better than Mr Jordan, and I have confidence that he can stabi-

lise this economy.

The longer President Granger allows petty grudges to deny the rightful PNC Minister of Finance access into Main Street, the more the poor and the working class will suffer, because ‘bluff’ is not a substitute for real talent.

Sase Singh

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monday, September 4, 2017

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Relationships matter more than rules – community building in the classroom starts on day one.

Try these strategies to begin forging strong relationships

you can share it in your introduction—it can serve as a model. Give class time for them to share with a partner and in small groups.

By Rebecca Alber

L

earning doesn’t happen without relationships. In the classroom, rules matter, but as many of us have learned after a few years teaching, relationships matter much more. One way we can deepen our relationships with students is to share a bit about ourselves with them, and create opportunities for them to share with us – and each other.

Of course rules, routines, and policies are crucial to outline for your students on day one so they know what to expect. We learn early on in our careers as teachers that being firm and clear about classroom expectations from the start will make all the difference for the kind of year we will have.

But after sharing rules and expectations, how about transitioning into sharing a few slides and artefacts that tell students about you? There’s general information you can share (details about your family, where you went to school, jobs you had before teaching, etc.), but you can add a few more vulnerable glances into your life: What struggles did you have growing up? As a student?

What do you value?

What do you love to do?

What would you change about the world if you were able?

If you knew it would work out, what are some risks you would take in life?

How about sharing some artefacts?

A few of your all-time favourite books?

What was your favourite at 12 years old? At 16? At 20? Bring copies of those books to show your students. Bringing in photos from your life is always a hit as well.

Why share yourself in this way?

Showing our humanity to students allows us to be people and not just The Teacher. And in my observations and experience, to be loved by those whom you teach, you have to show vulnerability, at times reveal who you are, your feelings, challenges, hopes, cares, and dreams. We ask students to write essays and poems and speeches in which

Just like me

they share vulnerable aspects of themselves. As teachers, as members of a classroom community, shouldn’t we do the same?

Students learning about each other

Once you’ve presented aspects of who you are, invite students to do the same. You’ve set the stage, showing some vulnerability and openness with them, so they see that this matters to you and that as a group you’re a class not simply of teacher and students, but of people.

Here are a few worthwhile activities for students to get to know each other and begin building relationships:

Good Things

Ask students to pair and share a good thing that happened for them or something that they’re looking forward to. It doesn’t have to be anything major – it can be something as simple as, “It’s taco night at my house tonight.” Perhaps someone’s sister just got married or someone’s birthday is in a week. Start each day or class period with Good Things, and as students get more comfortable with it, expand the groups to four or five students to help forge more community connections.

You share too.

Create an “All About Me” Bag

Provide each student with a paper lunch bag. Ask them to decorate the outside with words or images of things they like or what others can easily see about them. Have them place several objects in the bag that represent or symbolise things not easily known about them (eg, a pet toy that belongs to their cat, a photo of them playing soccer, etc.). If you make one yourself,

An oldie but goodie, this community-building strategy allows students to see those students they have things in common with, or with whom they share similar traits. The teacher makes a statement, and those students it relates to stand up. For example, “Pizza is my favourite food,” “I’m glad to be back in school,” or “I am the youngest in my family.” After making a statement, ask students to look around to note those they have this in common with before sitting down. (You can do this activity over several days or sporadically, with new statements and ones that may go a little deeper.)

Artefact sharing

Just as you might bring in some of your favourite childhood and teen books, invite students to bring in artefacts from their lives – photos, books, and awards – and share one-on-one, in small groups, or with the whole group.

Student Information Survey

Create a survey with age-appropriate and subject-appropriate questions.

Have students complete it. Share with them that this is for you, the teacher, to get to know them. Before collecting it, however, ask students to choose two or three responses they’d like to share with others. Provide time for them to pair up or get in groups of three and share, for example, their favourite music, food, and subject in school.

Meaningful relationships matter for learning. The rules and policies you enforce are important for keeping a well-managed class. But rather than emphasising control over your students, developing community and connection is a surefire ingredient for a good school year for all. (edutopia.org)

Limiting screen time for back to school

S

tudents are heading back to school and now is the perfect time for parents to implement new rules to help them succeed in the classroom. Limiting screen time can help kids focus and improve overall health.

Confession: I use the iPad as a babysitter, says Kelly Holmes, a mom of three and author of Happy You, Happy Family: A Book Just for Parents.

When I’m trying to get my toddler down for a nap, or I need to pay the bills, or we’re on a road trip – I give my six-year-old Abby the iPad for a while. We haven’t been officially limiting screen time because we felt like her media diet was at a healthy level.

Then last year, we noticed a disturbing phenomenon when Abby’s done with screen time, whether she plays with apps for 5 minutes or 45 minutes.

She turns into a zombie.

A cranky zombie.

She whines. She pouts.

Sometimes she throws fullon temper tantrums.

But that’s not even the worst part.

On road trips, one of Abby’s favourite ways to pass the time is for us to give her math word problems to solve. Like this: “Suppose you had 10 pieces of cake for your birthday party, but before the party starts your stressed-out mom eats 3 pieces. How many pieces of cake are left?”

The kid eats that stuff up. She loves it so much that I put together a road trip experiment for her, complete with Math problems and charts.

Then on a road trip last year, we noticed that after Abby had some screen time, she was completely incapable of solving even the simplest Maths problem we gave her. It’s like her brain stopped working.

The fact that even a little bit of screen time can make my child’s brain shut down?

It creeped me out.

And then I saw an article about how Steve Jobs and other high-tech executives severely limited screen time for their own kids. I wondered: What information do they have access to that the general public doesn’t?

I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that when my kid gets too much screen time, she’s absolutely no fun to be around. As it turns out, the research shows that when you limit kids’ screen time, kids behave better, get more sleep, and score better on tests at school. Plus, kids who don’t spend every waking minute glued to a screen are much better at reading human emotions.

Still, I get a little panicky at the thought of going cold turkey with screen time for my kids. It’s super useful in a pinch.

We were already fol-

lowing most of the advice I found about limiting screen time for kids. I’d have to get a little creative.

One day, I sat down with the iPad when Abby was busy in her room. And that’s when I realised our innocuous little tablet was loaded up with nearly a hundred kids’ apps.

At night, I’m pretty sure the apps get together and multiply like the little brain-sucking Gremlins that they are.

In that moment, I decided to do three things: Clean up.

Set a limit.

Explain why.

“Abby,” I called. “Can you come down here?”

She came down the stairs and stood in front of me on the couch. “What?”

“I want to clean up the iPad a little. We have so many apps installed, I’m afraid we’re going to run out of room for new movies.” I knew that would get her – she’d watch movies 24-7 if I let her.

She sat down next to me.

“I’ll point to an app, and you tell me whether it’s fun.

If not, we’ll just take it off.”

“Okay,” she said.

We cleared off quite a few that way, but I wasn’t done.

“Alright, our next step is to organise the apps we have left. Have you ever noticed that some apps use your brain more, like if you have to do Maths problems or read a story?”

She nodded.

“So we’re going to put those apps in a folder called Brain Food. Everything else, we’ll put in a folder called Junk Food. What do you know about junk food?”

“Um,” she said. “You’re not supposed to have it very often?”

“Totally right. Because it’s not good for your body, right?”

She shook her head. She looked a little scared about where this was going.

“These apps are the same. The Brain Food apps are a good workout for your brain muscle. But the Junk Food apps – you shouldn’t be using those very often because they’re not good for your brain.”

I made the two folders and handed the iPad to Abby. “You can tell me which folder you think each app should go in, and we’ll talk about it if I have a different opinion.”

After a few, she got the hang of it.

Stack the States? Brain Food.

Angry Birds? Junk Food. (idealistmom.com)

news

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MONDay, September 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

DDL records $936M Fisherman missing after boat accident after-tax profit P T In North West

he Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Group has realised some $936 million in taxed profits for the first half of the 2017 financial year.

According to Chairman Komal Samaroo, in the company’s 2017 Interim Report, the Group’s profit for the year before taxation was $1347 million, compared to $1193 million in 2016, thus reflecting an increase of $154 million, or almost 13 per cent. The after-tax profit was recorded at $936 million, compared to $805 million earned in the first half of the previous year, representing a 16 per cent increase in profit.

The Chairman noted that the Group continued to experience intensified competition in most markets and it is from this perspective that these results should be viewed.

Samaroo reported that turnover for the first half grew by seven per cent over the previous year, increasing from $8.5 billion to almost $9.1 billion. While turnover in the domestic market was relatively flat, increasing marginally by 0.5 per cent in the period, turnover in its international markets grew by an impressive 20 per cent.

The Group Chairman said, therefore, that DDL would continue to place great emphasis on the development of its brands, particularly, in its overseas markets. In order to sustain growth of its aged rum portfolio, the Group, according to Samaroo, will be investing in a new warehouse to accommodate an additional 30,000 barrels of rum for aging.

The Group said in its half-year report that it also planned to phase several projects to modernise its distribution business as well as

DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo

its production operations so as to maintain its competitive edge while expanding revenue. Additionally, the development of its human resource capacity to meet future demands continues apace.

For the 2016 financial year, the Group accumulated $296 million in taxed profits. Profit for the year before taxation was $2.920 billion, compared to $2.797 billion in 2015, thus reflecting an increase of $123 million, or almost 4.4 per cent. The after-tax profit was recorded at $2.191 billion, compared to $1.895 billion earned in 2015, representing a 16 per cent increase in profit.

In that same year, the Group’s subsidiaries recorded a profit before tax of $358 million in 2016, as against $313 million in 2015. However, this increased profitability escaped the Demerara Shipping Company Limited (DSCL), which made a profit of $102 million in 2016, compared with $146 million in 2015.

This decline, Samaroo explained, was as a result of the reduced volume of cargo handled by the lines represented by the shipping company.

The profitability trend completely evaded Tropical Orchard Products Co Ltd (TOPCO), which experi-

enced a loss of $16 million last year, whereas it had recorded a $20 million profit the previous year.

“This was due primarily to the loss of the school feeding programme contract (which had already been awarded to an overseas company), a matter which TOPCO successfully contested at the Bids Protest Committee…TOPCO had to write off inventory totalling $21.2 million in packaging material and finished product,” the Chairman explained.

He explained that the performance of the Group’s overseas subsidiaries had nevertheless made up for these losses by contributing $185 million in profit before taxation for 2016, compared with $172 million recorded in the previous year. The Demerara Distillers St Kitts Ltd recorded a profit of $25 million; Demerara Distillers USA Inc recorded $41 million in profit; Demerara Rum Company Ltd recorded $31 million profit, and the subsidiary in Europe recorded a profit of $88 million.

According to the Chairman, notwithstanding the Group’s complete withdrawal from the commodity bulk rum market in 2016 and the consequent absence of any sales in that segment for the year, the Group’s overall revenue for 2016 increased, though marginally, over 2015 by $89 million, or 0.5 per cent.

Samaroo had said Guyana’s economic outlook has been improved with the announcement of significant petro-carbon deposits offshore. To this end, the DDL Group would be expanding its several businesses to take full advantage of the opportunities that may arise from improvement in the domestic economy. (Samuel Sukhnandan)

olice are still combing the Barima River in the North West District of Region One in hope of finding fisherman Edward O’Neil alive or dead, after the boat in which he and 19-year-old Venezuelan national Kamal Hosea were travelling crashed into a piece of wood and ran aground on Sunday at about 02:00hrs.

The two were reportedly heading home after a night out drinking at the Kumaka Landing when the incident occurred.

Informing that the Police

are investigating the circumstances leading to the incident, Commander Ravindradat Budhram has said a search party is out combing the area in search of O’Neil. He said initial investigations have revealed that the duo were proceeding close to the bank of the river when the boat hit a wood before running into some bushes.

Kamal told the Police that following the mishap he began combing the area for his friend, but did not locate him. An alarm was raised and residents in the area formed a search party, but

their search yielded no results. Kamal was later taken to the Mabaruma Hospital where he is receiving treatment.

In July, a father and son lost their lives after the boat in which they were travelling was hit by another boat belonging to the Mabaruma Hospital. George Piper and his son Ravin, 18, along with another man known only as ‘Wood,’ were tossed out of their vessel at the mouth of the Moruca River; and while the other man survived the accident, George and his son lost their lives.

Onderneeming to get...

In May, the CH&PA held its inaugural Housing Expo in its Model Village at Perseverance on the East Bank of Demerara. On Tuesday, the Minister handed over the keys to Deborah Wilson and Winston Persaud who are now occupying their new duplex model homes at Perseverance.

The housing authority is expected to construct an additional 40 duplexes at Perseverance and is expected to be completed by the end of the year with each apartment costing $7.1m inclusive of the cost for the house-lot.

Interested persons are urged to visit the CH&PA Brickdam Office on Tuesday and Wednesday where they would be able to prequalify for the 40 duplexes so they could be able to source financing. The CH&PA are also in talks with the financial institutions to be more lenient with persons applying for loans to build or purchase homes.

Meanwhile, the CH&PA along with the Police in Region 2 said that they are still investigating the houselot fraud in the Region. On Thursday, Deputy Regional Housing Officer, Safeia Razak, was taken into Police

custody. Razak along with her boss, Regional Housing Officer Omesh Sasenarayan, are accused of taking monies from residents for house-lots and issuing them with fake receipts.

According to reports, earlier in the year, Sasenarayan allegedly collected the sum of $50,000 as payment for a house lot but issued a personal receipt instead of an official one, converting the money to his own use.

On Thursday, Minister Adams-Yearwood met with the victims of the alleged fraud.

Chief Executive Officer of the CH&PA, Lelon Saul, had earlier said that they are also investigating to determine whether this was an isolated incident or part of a pattern of corruption. He informed that the Authority is currently conducting au-

from page 2

dits of all their offices and would ensure that their regional offices are much more closely monitored. He added that there would be regular audits by the Regional Audit Departments and at least one managerial visit per month. He also stated that the housing authority is not going to offer compensation to the victims of the fraud.

Except for the CH&PA office in Georgetown and Linden, all payments for house lots must be made at the Regional Democratic Offices in Regions Two, Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). Given this report, ongoing investigations are being carried out at all those offices. (Lakhram Bhagirat)

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MONday, September 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Schools reopen today

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ll schools, with the exception of the Kako Primary School in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), are expected to be reopened today, welcoming new and current students all across Guyana.

In addition, some 13,329 pupils who recently sat the National Grade Six Assessment (NSGA) would be entering the secondary phase of their education.

On a tour of the city, this publication observed that most of the schools indicated that they were ready for reopening today. However, the possibility of students at the Smyth Street Nursery School having a comfortable day seems slim since there is construction work still ongoing in the compound.

While the exterior of the schools indicate readiness to be opened, the interior might tell a different

story since the sweeper/cleaners have all been on strike calling for proper wages.

The cleaners are being paid for six hours a day at a rate of $312 per hour. In addition, no The newly-constructed Smyth Street Nursery School is not quite finished

Back-to-school shopping at Guyana Stores in downtown Georgetown on Saturday

The Ketley Primary School all ready to welcome students

National Insurance Scheme (NIS) payment is made for the workers, which will deny them in their senior years benefits the State has to offer to them. The cleaners were initially working eight hours per day, but a decision was made by the Education Ministry to reduce that to six hours.

Hence their salary is below the public

servants’ minimum wage, which was adjusted to $50,000 per month. This practice is contrary to a Cabinet decision, which was made on November 5, 2003, for sweepers and cleaners to have wages set in accordance with the minimum wage of the country and for those payments to be made in a timely manner, according to Vice President of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Mortimer Livan.

In addition, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had said that Cabinet was discussing matters regarding the state of sweepers/ cleaners. However, no affirmative action has yet been taken by the Administration and it is unclear whether the sweeper/cleaners would be turning out to work.

(Lakhram Bhagirat)

Fire destroys building near fuel bond - in Essequibo A

fire of unknown origin on Sunday afternoon threatened a fuel bond at the head office complex of Francis Shurland and Sons Inc of Lot 13 Adventure, Essequibo Coast.

Breaking out at around 15:30 hrs, the fire destroyed the first building in the compound, but fuel was stored in another building at the back

Looking out… …for neighbours

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ack in the day, after Burnham and his PNC experiments had brought the country to its knees, Guyanese fled to every country in the vicinity, and then some. Today there’s probably not a country in the world where you wouldn’t bounce up with a mudlander.

But amongst our neighbouring countries, none provided more of a welcoming hand than Venezuela.

Trinidad, Barbados and the rest of the islands in the Caribbean are supposed to be our “brothers and sisters”.

We share a common culture, which we just supposedly commemorated at Carifesta XVIII. But can we really turn a blind eye to the fact that Trinidad routinely rounded up “illegal” Guyanese and shipped them back home? Can we really forget the “Guyanese Bench” at Grantley Adams Airport in Barbados? We’d been brought low by one of the staunchest “Caribbean Unity Man” - Burnham - but that didn’t cut us any slack, did it?

But Venezuela, which was our “enemy,” to whom we denied even a “blade of grass and a spring cuirass”, gave succour, sustenance, and a home to over 50,000 of our countrymen and women. There were no mass deportations…no apartheid bench…and no sneering looks of scorn. Guyanese established communities in Venezuela; they’d periodically visit their homeland with goodies for their starving families. During the days of banned essentials, a healthy trade with Venezuela kept western Guyana afloat.

Well, today the shoe’s on the other foot. A government with some startling similarities to the Burnhamite regime has brought down their country to its knees. We can argue they’re also being destabilised as we were in the sixties - but the bottom line for their ordinary citizens is that Venezuela’s now a living hell. Some Venezuelans have begun to come over here to survive - most recently to get treatment in Region 2 for malaria.

To its credit, the Government, via its Foreign Minister Greenidge, had signalled they will try to soften our stance from treating these Venezuelans as “illegal immigrants” and deporting them. Greenidge said, “At the policy level, the Government may want to see what can be done. We are looking, for example, at our legislation as it applies to refugees -- although in the case of Venezuela, these are not declared refugees -- but let me see what can be done.”

What we’d like to see done is to quickly work out a humane policy - taking into cognisance the state of our economy. For sure, we cannot afford to have our social services overloaded, but surely we can stop the automatic deportation policy still in effect.

Let us work out a credible and humane “good neighbour policy”. They’re not heavy…

…for the kids Fire of unknown origin on Sunday afternoon broke out at the head office complex of a popular businessman on the Essequibo Coast, and for a while threatened mayhem because of the huge fuel tanks on the premises

Head of the Anna Regina Fire Station, Clive Mc Donald, said an investigation has been launched into the cause of the fire.

(Indrawattie Natram)

of the compound.

A staff member attached to the fuel bond had reportedly seen the fire breaking out and had immediately informed the Fire Station.

When Guyana Times visited the scene, fire fighters were engaged in a valiant battle to extinguish the flames, and persons who flocked the scene in the neighbourhood were tight-lipped about the situation, but many were thankful the flames were extinguished before they had reached the huge fuel tanks at the back of the The destructive power of the fire bond.

The little darlings are returning to school today, and as usual, the past weekend was a blur of mothers (and a few fathers!) getting their “back to school” specials. But what about all that angst expressed a few weeks back at the CSEC results?? Likewise after the NGSA results? And that’s the problem, isn’t it?

Every year we wring our hands, weep and wail at the miserable results of ninety per cent of our kids, listen to our Education Ministry officials announce “interventions”, and then blithely wait for the next turn of the same wheel. So how come we don’t start somewhere in that turn of the wheel this year?

NGSA results are as good as any. There was a big “to do” about moving from a “test” to an “assessment” that’ll be used to identify areas of weakness (and strength) when the graduated enter secondary school, Grade 7.

This year, can’t the Ministry insist the scores of every kid in Grade 7 be made available to the teachers, and that they intervene appropriately? …for procurement?

Now that the Procurement Commission has pronounced the $632 million pharma contract to ANSA “broke the law”, is the Government going to ALLOW (much less ensure!) the law to take its course?

Orange jumpsuits and silver bracelets, anyone?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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monDAY, september 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Kenya, Guyana elections share close similarities – says former President Ramotar

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ecent pronouncements with regard to Kenya’s Supreme Court invalidating the result of its recent contentious presidential election and ordering a new vote have drawn global attention, particularly among the political sphere in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Former President Donald Ramotar said he has noted the decision, describing the court’s ruling as a historic one, which spells good for democracy, not only in Kenya, but in Africa and the world.

But Ramotar also claimed that there were many similarities and many lessons to be learnt.

“It is apposite to note that the reasons for pronouncing the elections null and void has many similarities with the elections in Guyana, held on May 11, 2015,” he stated.

In a historic ruling, the first in Africa, Kenya’s Supreme Court nullified on Friday last the re-election of a sitting president, ordering a new vote to be held within 60 days after finding that the outcome last month had been tainted by irregularities.

It was a stunning moment for Kenya, one of Africa’s most populous nations, and for democracy in general. Kenya’s disputed presidential election in 2007 set off bloodshed that left at

Former President Donald Ramotar

least 1300 people dead and 600,000 displaced around the country.

The Kenyan Court found credible evidence of fictitious polling places and statements of poll. In Guyana, one of the charges was that fake statements of poll were used to determine the elections results.

Ramotar said another similarity was while the information communication system was hacked in Kenya, in Guyana, that specific department was shut down during the May 11, 2015 elections. “It was not used to tally the votes to determine the results of the poll as the law prescribed,” he added.

Further, the former

Guyanese Head of State also noted that both Kenyan and Guyanese elections clearly instructed that international observers need to be more thorough in elections observations. Kenya’s election saw representatives from both the Carter Center and the European Union present.

“In Guyana, we have had international observers, including the Carter Center too. Yet significant alleged fraud took place in Kenya and in Guyana,” Ramotar argued.

He also highlighted the fact that in Kenya’s case, in less than a month the courts there heard the matter and pronounced on it.

This, according to the former President, is a giant step forward in the advancement of democracy and the rule of law.

“In Guyana, after more than two years, the case cannot be heard. This is due mainly to the manoeuvring of the Secretariat of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the sloth of the Judiciary.

“In normal circumstances, the CEO and Secretariat of GECOM would be pushing to vindicate themselves in the courts and in public opinion. It is, therefore, strange and monstrous that the body is trying to frustrate the hearing by the court,” he

Exxon will submit...

from page 3

According to the policy, legislation is likely to be enacted to set out how Guyanese will benefit.

The document also sets out that the policy will be enforced by a regulatory institution that is well-funded and resourced. The regulator, in turn, would be overseen by a multi-stakeholder group representing local bodies that are involved in the sector.

The regulatory agency would also have to report to Parliament, as is customary for most regulators who report to the Public Accounts Committee, or are overseen by the Auditor General and the Social Services Committee.

And if contracts are awarded by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), the regulator would also be tasked with ensuring international operators manage their work according to the Local Content strategy.

This, it says, will apply from the developmental stage of the project to its operational stage.

The agency’s duties would include monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the licensing and registration process for all suppliers. It will also be in charge of creating databases for suppliers, local professionals and technicians, as well as projects. It is proposed that the body will also set targets for these projects.

Kenya’s Opposition Leader, Raila Odinga arriving at the Supreme Court in Nairobi on Friday last.

The court nullified last month’s presidential election (Photo credit: Ben Curtis/Associated Press)

further added.

On that note, Ramotar said the delay in addressing this matter would further undermine the country’s democracy and possibly lead Guyanese to a period similar to the late 1960s up to 1992, which he said was marked by rampant electoral fraud and dictatorship.

“I wish to express my congratulations to the Court in Kenya on the professional and efficient way in which it conducted itself. This is a great example to all countries striving for democratic government, separation of power and the rule of law,” Ramotar asserted.

The People’s Progressive

Party/Civic (PPP/C) has made several claims against the validity of the results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

The PPP/C had requested GECOM to conduct a recount of the ballots cast in view of several irregularities and discrepancies found during the elections.

Ramotar, who was President before that election, had said that the repeated requests were denied

by GECOM, without taking into consideration the real concerns that have been brought to their attention by the Party. Ramotar had said, “My Party remains convinced that a recount would

have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the electoral process had been compromised and the PPP/C would have won.”

GECOM disagreed, however, and proceeded to declare the final results, after which David Granger was sworn in as the new president of Guyana. More than 410,000 votes were cast in those elections, with a negligible number going to smaller, less known parties.

The results gave the coalition 33 seats in the National Assembly, and the PPP/C 32, with the coalition holding the executive arm of Government.

10 news

MONday, September 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt can do more to revive business – Region 3 Chamber ...urges incentives for rice farmers, removal of VAT on education & utilities

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udget 2018 is expected to be presented in November this year and as Guyana is in the pre-budget season, agencies and groups would have been submitting their proposals for which areas the Government should invest money in.

However, it turns out that the Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry was not consulted on submitting any budget proposals. According to the Chamber’s President, Radesh Rameshwar, this could be attributed to the Chamber’s fairly new status.

“Only of recent, we have resuscitated back this chamber,” he stated, in a recent interview with <<<Guyana Times>>>. “Because it was defunct over a period of time, I am certain that next year they will (consult).”

While the Chamber did not submit a budget plan, Rameshwar did have some suggestions on what the Government should pay attention to in its budget.

Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) has significant rice farmlands, but according to Rameshwar overall, business is slow.

“The Government can do a lot of things to help resuscitate business in Region Three and try to restore back confidence in some of the businesses here,” he said.

“We’re asking for them to assist the farmers in Region Three.”

“If they can grant them some form of duty-free concessions for spares, for diesel, because the price for the paddy is not there. So these

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

are things they can include in their budget to restore back some confidence into the farmers and businesses in Region Three, to boost their business.”

In the 2017 Mid-Year report, it had been reported that the local manufacturing sector recovered in the first half of 2017, growing by 9.9 per cent following a decline of 14.1 per cent in the corresponding period in 2016. It was said that this was mainly the result of expansion in the rice sector.

According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan in the report, rice production in the first half of 2017 was recorded at 349,867 tonnes.

This is an increase of 31.6 per cent over production in the first half of 2016.

This noteworthy performance, he had said, was attributed to a rise in acreage sown in all regions, especially in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) where acreage sown rose by 30 per cent to 42,595 hectares.

Overall, the agriculture, fishing, and forestry sectors grew by 6.4 per cent in the first half of 2017, underpinned by the recovery in the rice industry and im-

2 construction workers injured in fall from 3-storey building ─ at Vreed-en-Hoop

Region Three Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Radesh Rameshwar

proved performance in the fishing industry.

It is important to note, however, that when compared to the first half of 2016, rice export earnings declined by US$11.1 million to US$77.2 million in the first half of 2017.

This, Jordan said, was caused by a decline in volume exported despite higher export prices. The Minister noted, however, that given high levels of production, exports are expected to grow during the second half of 2017, as millers reduce their inventories.

VAT

Rameshwar also touched on the Value Added Tax (VAT) the Government had imposed on private educators, as well as the VAT on water and electricity, in the 2017 budget.

These measures were not popular ones and had touched off a number of protests until assurances were given by the Alliance For Change (AFC), whose office was also picketed, that it would intercede to have the tax removed next year.

The parliamentary Opposition had submitted a motion to the Clerk of the National Assembly calling for the revocation of VAT on education. This came as parents protested the imposition of the tax.

The motion was moved by former Education Minister Priya Manickchand. In the motion, Manickchand called for the immediate revocation of the 14 per cent tax imposition on private education.

The particulars of the motion stated that the impact of the onerous budgetary measures has caused great consternation and anxiety for parents and students and affected the future of students’ rights to access education of their choice, inclusive of private education, as provided for in the Constitution.

“One of the things we would like (the Government to look at) is the situation with the VAT on education,” the business executive said.

“We’re hoping that in 2018 it’s going to be removed completely. We’re asking the Government if they can continue to relax the VAT on electricity and water (for) the elders, the senior people.” (Jarryl Bryan)

The three-storey building at Vreed-en-Hoop from which the two construction workers fell

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wenty-year-old Safraz Mkeed is now a patient at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), while his colleague, identified only as Timothy, was rushed to the

stumbled on high voltage cables attached to a nearby Guyana Power & Light (GPL) electricity pole and was thrown against his colleague at the edge of the building. The impact

of the severity of his condition.

When the Guyana Times visited the scene of the accident on Sunday, the workers had already been sent away. Nevertheless, this

caused Timothy to lose balance, and both men went tumbling from the 3rd flood.

Mkeed somehow managed to land on the 2nd flood, but Timothy tumbled all the way to the ground.

The two construction workers were instantly rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital in a bus being operated by the RBL. There it was determined that Mkeed had sustained a minor laceration to his head and several electric burns about his body. His colleague Timothy, however, sustained a broken arm, fractured ribs, and other injuries.

Mkeed remains under observation at the WCD medical institution, while Timothy has been transferred to the GPHC in light

newspaper managed to speak to Mkeed while he was receiving treatment.

He detailed that he had been labouring at the site for about 6 months, and that the incomplete structure is intended to house a business establishment.

Meanwhile, ranks of the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station have said that a formal report is yet to be made to them concerning the incident, despite the outpost being 2 doors away from where the incident had occurred. In fact, the officers on duty pointed out that they were at the time housing a prisoner and were unable to leave him unattended to rush to the scene.

As such, it is uncertain whether a police investigation has been launched.

(Ashraf Dabie)

Injured: Safraz Mkeed

Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) to receive attention for the more severe injuries he sustained when they both came in contact with a high voltage electric cable at a construction site in Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara on Sunday, and were thrown off the 3-storey building they were working on.

Eyewitness reports detail that the incident occurred at around 10:30hrs, while a number of men were working on constructing a shopping mall located next to the Republic Bank branch (RBL) at Stelling Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD. This publication understands that the duo were at the time working around the edge of the upper flat of the building when Mkeed

news

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MONDAY, september 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 3 top CAPE, CSEC performers honoured - with cash incentives, trophies and certificates

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he Region Three (Essequibo Islands/ West Demerara) Chamber of Commerce and Industry has honoured with cash incentives, trophies and certificates the students of that region who have recorded outstanding performances in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).

Last Saturday, at an event held at the Aracari Resort, the Chamber celebrated the region’s educational institutions, and congratulated and encouraged its students and teachers to continue to strive for excellence in education. This event was the first of its kind hosted by the Chamber in seventeen (17) years.

Those honoured were as follows: top CAPE student Vamanadev Hiralall, who received a certificate, trophy, smartphone and a cash incentive of $120,000; top CSEC students Faneeza Etwaroo, Rebecca Hammichand, Suzanna Dass, Nirmala Somath and Muhamed Ali, who each respectively received a certificate, trophy and cash incentive of $50,000.

Vamanadev Hiralall explained that sacrifice and dedication are necessary to achieving good results. “If you want to see results or performance to change for the better, you must make sacrifices such as your time

Representatives of Zeeburg Secondary School, West Demerara Secondary School and Saraswati Vidya Niketan (SVN) with the region’s top CSEC and CAPE students

students alongside the top schools to embark in life,” Pollard urged.

The ACEO stressed that CSEC and CAPE students on their new journey, to choose a parents needed to collab- to be honoured for their path that they are orate with the teachers to hard work.

From left: MP Mohamed Irfaan Ali; Region Three Chamber of Commerce and play an active role in the de The Chamber’s presipassionate about.

Industry (R.3.C.C.I) President Radesh Rameshwar; members of the R.3.C.C.I, “Time is now velopment of the students. dent assured that the orRegional Executive Officer (REO) Denis Jaikarran; Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) Owen Pollard; with the region’s top Caribbean Secondary for you (students) He noted that the teachers ganisation would work asEducation Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency to put into prac- have been entrusted to up- siduously to guarantee that Examination (CAPE) students tice those guiding lift and motivate their stu- Region Three is known as the foremost region in the principles that will dents to perform well. and certain decisions in or- School, and Saraswati Vidya It was highlighted that, country, through its collabnow make your der to see results.”

Niketan (SVN) as well as to teachers proud. Your suc- next year, the Chamber oration with various stakePresident of the the schools’ educators. cesses will be your teachers’ hopes to include the re- holders.

Regional Executive reward; go forth and make gion’s top National Grade Region Three Chamber

(REO) Denis them proud. Find your niche Six Assessment (NGSA) of Commerce, Radesh Officer Rameshwar, said the event Jaikarran, commended the is aimed to develop the re- students for their outstandgion by investing in its hu- ing performances, and obman resources. “We are here served that they have made to motivate and start a revo- their region proud with their lution to further put this re- dedication and sacrifice. He gion and its resources on the added that the ceremony map,” he posited. is a great initiative to honAccording to the our and encourage students, Department of Public teachers and the region’s Information, Rameshwar educational institutions to said this is one of the first strive for continued developmajor contributions that the ment. organisation has undertakAssistant Chief en since the installation of a Education Officer (ACEO) new committee. Additional Owen Pollard congratulated awards were also given the students for their perforout to representatives of mances in the examinations.

Zeeburg Secondary School, He advised them that as Regional Education Officer (REdO) Penelope McIntosh and members of Region Three Chamber of West Demerara Secondary they leave their respective Commerce and Industry with the top CSEC and CAPE students

Driver critical after Mon Repos accident

The mangled car after the accident

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man, identified as Anthony Jairam, is now in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he crashed into a bridge at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Sunday afternoon.

According to details acquired by Guyana Times, the accident occurred around 04:00h when

Jairam, who was driving a grey Premio motor car proceeding North along the Railway Embankment Road in Mon Repos, reportedly lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the bridge before spinning and crashing again into another section of the bridge.

As a result of the accident, the vehicle was bad-

ly mangled. Public-spirited persons rushed to the assistance of the victim who was trapped in the car.

After much effort, he was pulled from the car in an unconscious state and rushed to the Hospital’s emergency unit where he is receiving treatment.

One eyewitness, a shop owner who lives in the vicin-

ity of the bridge where the accident occurred, said the injured man’s entire upper body was bloodied.

According to the man (no name given), the accident victim “looked like he in bad shape, because when them man pull he out of the car, he whole top part was full of blood, all he face”. (Kizzy Coleman)

12 news

monDAY, september 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 7 hit by another violent storm …no school reopening today in Kako Village

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n less than one month, at least three villages in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) have been devastated by violent storms, leaving residents to pick up the pieces and restart life. Late on Saturday afternoon, a violent storm wreaked havoc in Kako Village. Although there has been no loss of life, residents have to now pick up the pieces and start reconstructing their damaged homes.

According to Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford, no one was seriously injured.

He said that a team from the Regional Democratic

Bradford informed Guyana Times.

He added that the team reported that residents indicated that for the past five days they have been experiencing heavy thunder coupled with lightning and precipitation. He said that this would begin in the afternoon hours around 15:00h.

“The parents are fearful of sending their children to school, especially those that have to use boats, because of the storm. They are saying that the children should remain home, because it would be too bad if they get caught in a storm on the riv-

“Because of the damage to the school, there would be no school reopening today”

Council’s Emergency Preparedness Committee has been dispatched to the village and has reported that some six houses were totally destroyed, six other buildings suffered major damage and the school in the area was also damaged.

“Because of the damage to the school, there would be no school reopening tomorrow (Monday) and the Regional Administration would be there to begin repairs to the school soon,”

er,” he said.

Bradford said that the Civil Defence Commission has been informed and was on standby to provide assistance if needed. He added that Kamarang, also in Region Seven, was affected, but because of its remote location, the details of the damage there are yet to be reported.

The Regional Chairman said interior locations would experience frequent storms during the hurricane season

and noted that the residents were already looking at the possibility of constructing storm-resistant homes.

He said that a storm-resistant home would be built to house the family of Marsha Jordan, who was killed when a house collapsed on her last month during a violent storm.

Jordan was seven months pregnant at the time. She was the mother of two girls aged 3 and 11. Around 16:00h on Friday, August 19, heavy winds, lightning and thunder wreaked hav-

Flashback: The house that collapsed on Marsha Jordan and killed her during a storm last month

The violent storm wreaked havoc in Kako Village on Saturday afternoon, as can be seen in these photos

oc on the Amerindian village of Jawalla, damaging sev-

eral houses in the process.

Jordan and her two daugh-

ters were sheltering under a house when it collapsed on

them, immediately killing her.

Lindeners stage 2nd “March against Sodomy”

By Utamu Belle

L

indeners on Saturday staged a second “March against Sodomy”, led by Lindenbased Pastor Apostle Nigel London of Come As You Are Ministries.

This time, the march was held at Wismar in the Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) community, commencing from the Bayroc Community Centre Ground and culminating at the Christianburg Community Centre Ground. It was organised under the hashtags #TheMarch #TheMovement #LindenResistSodomy and #WeStandForWhatIsRight.

While it was not as well supported as the first march, which was held at Mackenzie last month, participants who took to the streets in condemnation of the works of the Society

Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and its Managing Director, Joel Earl Simpson, continued their calls for enforcement of the laws against buggery in Guyana.

“We stand for what is right, we won’t give up this fight!”; “Righteousness exalts a nation...Sodomy – Abomination, buggery – abomination, man with man – abomination”, and “Adam and Steve – abomination” were among some of the chants which participants shouted as they made their way through the streets. The marchers held placards bearing slogans such as “Protect our children from Sodomy” as they urged all to be a ‘D.O.C’ (Defender of Children).

A sermon was presented by the Apostle at the Christianburg Community Centre Ground, where he said that “sodomy is abom-

Lindeners staged another “March against Sodomy” on Saturday at Wismar, Linden in Region 10

ination, whether private or public...and it is still illegal in Guyana”. Showing an illustration of “boys kissing” which he alleged has been promoted by SASOD, London argued that SASOD and its Managing Director were trying to seek approval not only for adults. He noted that “There’s a curse against sodomites, they can’t produce children and we shall defend our children...SASOD is about sodomy across the board; it’s about lesbianism across the board. It’s not about no age!” London maintained as he called for children to be protected against sodomy.

Following a similar march in the town last month, Simpson had noted that owing to the “intense homophobia promoted by the likes of the Apostle, Linden is a very difficult environment for LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual

and Transgender) persons to live and feel safe in”, while he explained that homophobic stigma and discrimination have a damaging effect on people’s psychosocial health.

The Apostle appears to have been at loggerheads with Simpson mainly on social media since last year when SASOD launched its LGBT Sexual Health Training project in collaboration with the Linden Care Foundation and others in the community. Since then, there has been some amount of back and forth between the two on social media, with the Apostle also speaking out against Simpson and his work in relation to SASOD, during his weekly locally aired televised live programme.

In this regard, Simpson had noted that legal avenues would be explored.

news

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monDAY, september 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Machel puts on electrifying show at National Stadium The Soca King himself entertaining the crowd

The capacity crowd at the Guyana National Stadium

T

he King of Soca, Machel Montana no doubt left Guyanese who assembled at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence wanting more, after his electrifying performance at the “Soca in My Heart” fete put on by Banks DIH Limited on Saturday night.

At approximately 00:30h, the Stadium came alive when the Soca icon, clad in white, took to the stage to entertain the capacity crowd who all erupted in screams of excitement at the sight of him.

From the start to the finish of his 90-minute performance, the crowd filled with both young and old gyrated to the fa-

miliar hits of Montana.

Some were even thrilled to touch the Soca King, who showed that he appreciated his Guyanese fans especially since he was returning to Guyana after a seven-year hiatus.

But it was worth the wait as the crowd partied until they were “wet with sweat”, but did not back down from enjoying every second of the fete.

Montana performed hits such as “Advantage”, “Happiest Man Alive”, and “Like A Boss” which are some of his latest hits and even returned to his beginnings with iconic Soca songs such as “Come

An excited fan trying to get a better view of Soca King Machel Montano

Again” and “Wine On Me”.

Following his performance, it was clear that the Guyanese fans wanted more, as some were screaming “We want more!”

However, not only were they treated to the Soca King but they were also thrilled with performances from some of Guyana’s best artistes such as Timeka Marshall, who entertained the crowd with her hits as well as the all-popular “split in the de

Timeka Marshall and an audience member displaying her 'Split in de Middle' moves

middle”; Adrian Dutchin, who showed that his waist was also like rubber when he got the crowd excited with some of his moves; Big Red, who performed her hits; and Kwasi Ace, who had the crowd erupting with laughter as he displayed his rhyming skills.

All in all, those Guyanese who turned up at the Stadium can say they were thoroughly entertained. (Kizzy Coleman)

Adrian Dutchin showing off his moves to the crowd

14 news

monDAY, september 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Kwe-Kwe Nite a hit at Guyana Folk Festival in Brooklyn T he auditorium of the St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, New York was last Friday evening transformed into a grand Kwe-Kwe, so planned as one of the main events for this year’s Guyana Folk Festival.

Both the local and Guyanese communities gathered to participate in this African Guyanese tradition, which has been an annual event of the fest.

The Kwe-Kwe is a celebra-

Kevin Parker, New York State Senator, making brief remarks

Persons dancing and joining the Kwe-Kwe celebrations

The bride and groom chosen for the Kwe-Kwe celebrations

tion that takes place on the night before the marriage ceremony of a couple,

and involves the singing of traditional songs, dancing, eating and drinking.

The festivity allows the

two families opportunity to become acquainted whilst they share marriage advice to the potential bride and

groom.

Friday night’s KweKwe kicked off with ‘a ganda’, wherein the celebrants sprinkled rum on the floor to invite the spirits of the dead to come and be part of the celebration. This was followed by the greeting song “Good Night Ay”, then by the general invitation to all the visitors attending: “Come to My Kwe-Kwe.” The buying of the bridegroom followed with much laughter and banter, as advice on matrimonial matters was dispensed and a demand for a demonstration of the couple’s sexual skill was made when

the song “Show Me Yuh Science” was chanted.

The evening closed with the departure song “Las Wan, Las Wan”.

The Department of Public Information said last Friday evening’s festivities saw persons of all ethnic backgrounds participating, including the Karao indigenous troupe which graced the occasion with a cultural dance as they encouraged persons to embrace Guyana’s diverse cultures.

“Culture is the framework that defines…it is the framework for history,” remarked New York State

Senator Kevin Parker, who took time out to attend the function. While Kwe-Kwe celebrations are not as popular as they once were, the hosting of a Kwe-Kwe night as part of this year’s fest serves as a reminder of Guyana’s rich African cultural roots and traditions.

The Department of Public Information has said it is the aim of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York to encourage Guyanese at home and abroad to make Kwe-Kwe, with its distinctive music and dance, part of their educational and cultural experience.

CPG rank, son arrested for stabbing estate worker

By Andrew Carmichael

A

C o m m u n i t y Policing Group (CPG) member on the East Bank of Berbice (EBB) is now in Police custody assisting with investigations into the wounding of a Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) labourer.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening at Edinburgh, EBB. The injured man, Basdeo Sahadeo, 25, of Edinburgh Village, was treated at the New Amsterdam Hospital where he received a number of stitches for seven stab wounds and four lacerations.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Sahadeo said that about 22:00h on Saturday, the CPG officer attacked him and then his 16-yearold son allegedly joined in.

The incident was reportedly witnessed by several villagers who claimed that the CPG officer, a licensed firearm holder, also threatened to shoot them.

According to Sahadeo, he was in the village earlier in the evening and was told that some boys were

Injured, Basdeo Sahadeo

waiting to beat him. He explained that two months ago he had lent his bicycle to a boy who was on an errand and it was later discovered that the boy had tendered a counterfeit $1000 bill.

Sahadeo said he was being accused of ‘switching’ the money when he loaned the bicycle. “So I go to the boy and ask him what is the problem and by the time I reach the big man [CPG officer] reach at the back here and he tell me, ‘Look how you all could get you all dead,’ so I ask what I do.”

Sahadeo said he was verbally abused and then lashed in his head with

a glass which his attacker had in his hand at the time, causing blood to run down his face. “So I tell him that he is a big man, I didn’t come to fight…then he start to punch me, and I exchange cuffs with him and he fall down.”

Several villagers related the same story.

Meanwhile, Sahadeo’s mother, Camille Mendonza noted that threats from the CPG rank were also hurled at her. “When I turn and told him that I never ex-

Stab wounds to the victim’s hand and chest

pected that from him, he turn and said that he could shoot all of us.”

The villagers say the CPG officer is a licensed firearm holder.

Sahadeo also told this publication that the CPG rank held on to him and allowed his son to stab him in the chest.

Police took the CPG officer into custody, along with his son who should have been starting Fifth Form today.

Former Bahamas MP’s case heads to Supreme Court

F

ormer Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Cabinet Minister Kenred Dorsett was instructed to appear before Supreme Court Justice Bernard Turner on September 15 to answer to the charges that he bribed and extorted a man of $120,000.

Dorsett, who was served a voluntary bill of indictment, was in good spirits. He appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney. His wife and other relatives were in

the public gallery to lend their support.

McKinney advised Dorsett that he is to appear before Turner on September 15 at 10:00h. “Should you fail to appear, a warrant for your arrest will be issued to compel you to appear,” McKinney said.

Dorsett, 46, who served in the Christie Cabinet from 2012 to 2017, was also given 21 days to provide an alibi.

Attorney Wayne Munroe, who represents Dorsett, said the difficulty with pro-

viding an alibi is that the dates of the charges against Dorsett are vague.

The charges state that the offences committed were done between March 1 and May 9 on the island of New Providence.

Munroe argued that prosecutors have not identified on which date the offense occurred or where on New Providence.

He asked that the investigators provide those particulars. Dorsett is on $50,000 bail with two sure-

ties. He has also had to surrender his travel documents. On July 13, Dorsett was arrested and charged over claims that he abused his authority to demand $120,000 from contractor Johnathan Ash, who was hired to remove debris from the New Providence Landfill after a fire at the site earlier this year.

He was charged with four counts of bribery, four counts of extortion and one count of misconduct in public office (Excerpt from Nassau Guardian)

15

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

Reactions to flying locally after recent plane crashes

W

ithin the past six weeks, Guyana has experienced three major aviation accidents, two of which resulted in the death of the respective pilots. Given these recent occurrences, Guyana Times asked members of the public their opinion on the plane crashes and whether or not they have been discouraged from wanting to travel locally by air? Here are some responses:

Abdul Williams “I don’t feel safe at all; measures should be put into place to have these aircraft inspected. If they do have people who inspect the aircraft previously, then they need to be fired immediately. Three plane crashes in just over a month is unbelievable. If this was the US, you know fully well they would have shut Ogle (Eugene F Correia Airport) down until they get their behinds together.”

Anand Persaud “The planes should be checked thoroughly by the mechanical engineers before taking off. However, the recent crashes do not discourage me from wanting to travel locally.”

Dave Persaud “Of course, I am very discouraged to travel locally.

This is a serious issue and I think this is something that the Government and the respective authorities need to seriously and urgently look into. They need to get to the bottom of the problem and find out what is causing these plane crashes.”

David Lallman “There should be more systems in place to analyse whatever situations those pilot are facing. I would not be discouraged from travelling locally because it’s one life to live and besides, we does only hope for the best whilst travelling.”

Dellon Saul “Yes, I’m a bit discouraged from wanting to travel locally via air. These plane crashes are too frequent and I am having questions. Personally, I hope the investigators look at all aspects, including money and insurance issues.”

Esaun Crandon “I travel once about seven years ago with one of the small airplanes and I didn’t enjoy the flight. Since then I was a bit sceptical about flying with those small planes. And with the recent plane crashes, I am really concerned and discouraged to travel with those small planes. I guess not only me but others as well.”

Jamal Dover “Yes, I am afraid. These recent crashes have made me fearful to fly locally. I would like to see a better emergency plan in place, and maybe even the use of parachutes for emergency situations on these planes.”

Ashley Nauth “In reality, there is nothing to be concerned about.

Aircraft control systems are so sophisticated now which makes it safe to travel. Yes, I admit I am a little fearful, and yes, I am a little discouraged.

But this will not stop me from flying locally because I want to see that beauty of Guyana from overhead!”

Kevin Williams “Of course, I’ll fear for my life…a plane crash is not like a car crash; the majority of plane crashes result in death and serious injuries (if you do survive).”

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, september 4, 2017

Regional

Hurricane watches issued as Irma Colombia’s ELN rebel group ‘killed approaches Leeward Islands Russian hostage’

H

urricane watches have been issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saba, St Eustatius, Sint Maarten, St Martin and Saint Barthelemy, as Hurricane Irma approaches the northern Leeward Islands.

The US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) also says interests in the remainder of the Leeward Islands, the British and US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico should monitor the progress of the hurricane which, at 17:00h, remained at Category 3 status with 115 mile-per-hour winds.

At that time it was about 790 miles east of the Leeward Islands and moving towards the west at 14 miles per hour.

“On the forecast track, the centre of Irma is fore-

C

Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Martin are among the islands under threat

cast to approach the northern Leeward Islands late Tuesday…Some strengthening is forecast during the

next 48 hours,” the NHC said.

It added that hurricane conditions are possi-

ble within the watch area by Tuesday night, with tropical storm conditions possible by late Tuesday.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

olombia’s ELN rebel group has said it killed a Russian hostage when he tried to escape.

The rebels said Arsen Voskanyan, a Russian citizen of Armenian origin, was shot dead in April.

He was abducted in November, the rebels said, accusing him of collecting poisonous frogs to smuggle overseas.

The rebels are holding peace talks with the Colombian Government, but say they are unlikely to renounce their kidnapping policy in the near future.

The ELN, or National Liberation Army, finances its operations mostly with the ransom paid to release hostages.

The announcement of Voskanyan’s death comes at the end of the third round

of peace negotiations, which began in February.

The rebels said Voskanyan was being taken to a remote jungle area in north-western Colombia where he was going to be handed over to Red Cross delegates and freed.

He suddenly grabbed a grenade from one of the fighters and tried to run away when he was shot dead, the ELN said. The information has not been confirmed by the Colombian Government.

The ELN and the Colombian Government are hoping to emulate the success of peace negotiations with the larger left-wing FARC rebel group.

After four years of talks the FARC signed a peace agreement last November.

(BBC News)

T&T Ministries face cutbacks Jamaica: Mined-out bauxite lands in 2018 budget to grow ganja for medical use

T

he Trinidad Government’s 2018 Budget, which is expected to be delivered before month-end, is shaping up to involve continued “serious cutbacks” in ministries’ allocations.

The signal came following meetings of Ministries with the Ministry of Planning and other divisions on the previous week regarding Budget aspects.

Following those meetings, Government officials said the expected time line for delivery of the 2018 package is late September.

They noted that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley returns from his United States medical check-up on September 11, and is expected to meet trade unions right after that. The current second session of Parliament also prorogues September 21.

They pointed out that the Third Session of the Parliament will begin immediately after the proroguing and announcement of the 2018 Budget date is ex-

T

Finance Minister Colm Imbert

pected at the opening of the new session, or immediately after.

A 10 to 20 per cent cut in expenditure is so far projected for most Ministries, several of which are currently planning how to cope with the expected cuts.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert did not respond to Budget queries – including on progress – up to Saturday. But other ministerial quarters have been monitoring whether the Budget may end up being

less than the 2017 package of TT$53 billion.

Yesterday, they noted that one perk of a possible smaller Budget – around TT$48 billion to TT$49 billion – is that the deficit will be decreased. The 2017 deficit was around TT$6 billion to TTT$7 billion.

The biggest challenge, Government sources said, is meeting recurrent expenditure and stimulating the economy (which they acknowledged is at standstill).

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

he Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) is to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) this week with Canadianbased Timeless Herbal Care (THC) for greenhouse cultivation of cannabis on mined-out bauxite lands for medical use.

The signing of the MoU, which was expected last Thursday at the JBI, was postponed until this Wednesday to accommodate Transport and Mining Minister Mike Henry’s involvement.

Henry, who has been a consistent advocate of using the mined-out lands for research and development in growing Jamaican marijuana for medical products, said Thursday that he wanted to be sure that would be a focus of the MoU before the signing.

He told the Jamaica Observer that he has been interested in a research and development process

Potato growing on restored bauxite land (Photo: Jamaica Bauxite Institute)

guiding farmers using the mined-out lands to start growing cannabis crops to fulfil the requirements of companies like Timeless Herbal Care. He said he received that support from the JBI. “It is something that I have announced before, and it is something that the research and development unit of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute has been interested in. We want to do the re-

search and development to ensure that the farmers get full benefit from the growing of cannabis,” he stated.

Timeless Herbal Care, a nutraceutical pharmaceutical company producing medical marijuana products, announced in September 2015 that it had secured a US$100-million deal to develop medical marijuana products in Jamaica for the international market. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Mexico offers relief for Hurricane Harvey victims amid storms of immigration controversy

D

ays after Category 4 Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston on Friday, August 25, residents desperately seek assistance and support from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as well as state and local leadership. Ordinary citizens have stepped up as

first responders in daring rescue missions.

Meanwhile, even as heavy rainfall continued to pound down on Houston and surrounding areas over the weekend, President Trump found the time to remind Mexico about his plan to build a border wall.

In contrast, as this cat-

astrophic ‘life-threatening storm surge’ hit the region, Mexican officials replied with an offer to help.

Described the hurricane as a ‘landmark’ natural disaster, Carlos Sada, Mexico’s undersecretary for North American relations, said late Monday, “Our offer is open and per-

manent. We’re just waiting for instructions,” Sada continued, “Texas and Mexico share more than half the border. There are families, marriages, businesses that bind our two sides. This is about being good neighbours.”

Mexico’s declaration of support interrupts increas-

ing hostilities and tensions between the US and Mexico over a long list of immigration policy battles, including Trump’s insistence that Mexico pays to build his proposed wall at the USMexico border.

President Trump has not yet commented on the generous offer, but Secretary

of State Rex Tillerson thanked the Mexican government on August 31: “It’s very generous of the Government of Mexico to offer their help at this very, very challenging time for our citizens down in Texas and now moving towards the border of Louisiana as well.” (Excerpt from CaribbeanNewsNow)

monDAY, september 4, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

North Korea conducts hydrogen Russia: US closure of diplomatic bomb test; US pledges massive sites a “blatantly hostile act” response if attacked

M

N

orth Korea on Sunday conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, which it said was of an advanced hydrogen bomb for a longrange missile, prompting the threat of a “massive” military response from the United States if it or its allies are threatened.

Speaking outside the White House after meeting with President Donald Trump and his national security team, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Trump asked to be briefed on all available military options.

“Any threat to the United States or its territories, including Guam or our allies will be met with a massive military response, a response both effective and overwhelming,” Mattis said. ”We are not looking to the total annihilation of a country, namely North Korea,” Mattis said with Joseph Dunford, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at his side. ”But as I said, we have many options to do so.”

Trump earlier in the

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un provides guidance on a nuclear weapons programme in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang September 3, 2017 (KCNA via Reuters)

day refused to rule out military action and threatened to cut off trade with any country doing business with Pyongyang.

Asked while leaving a church service whether the United States would attack North Korea, Trump replied: “We’ll see.”

The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet today to discuss the nuclear test. Mattis said the members of the Council “remain unanimous in their commitment to de-

nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”

In a series of early morning tweets, the President also appeared to rebuke ally South Korea, which faces an existential threat from North Korea’s nuclear programme.

“South Korea is finding, as I have told them, that their talk of appeasement with North Korea will not work, they only understand one thing!” Trump said in an early morning tweet. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Iran court upholds 10-year jail sentence of ‘spy’

A

n Iranian court has upheld the conviction and 10-year jail sentence of a US man accused of spying.

Chinese-American Xiyue Wang was imprisoned in July for “collaborating with foreign governments” – a charge he denies.

He was arrested while doing research in Iran for a university dissertation.

Three others facing similar charges have also had their jail sentences upheld.

Two have joint US-Iranian citizenship, and one is Lebanese.

The court rulings come at a time of rising tension

between Iran and the US. Washington has demanded the immediate release of the Americans, who it said were being held on fabricated national security charges.

The US State Department accused Iran of “harassing, arresting and detaining US citizens”.

People of dual nationality were being especially singled out, it said, while the ability of the US to help those being held was “extremely limited”.

Wang was arrested in August 2016 as he tried to leave the country, according to the Iranian judiciary’s

news agency.

He was accused of seeking to gather “highly confidential articles” for US and British academic institutions.

“Before his arrest he was able to digitally archive 4500 pages of the country’s documents while under covert surveillance,” the agency said.

Earlier this year, the authorities in Tehran said as many as 70 people they described as spies were serving sentences in the capital’s jails.

The identities of only a handful have been made public. (Excerpt from BBC News)

oscow denounced the American decision to close three Russian diplomatic facilities in the United States as a “blatantly hostile act” that violated international law and demanded Washington reverse the order on Sunday.

The United States has ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in San Francisco and two buildings housing trade missions in Washington and New York.

It is the latest broadside in a tit-for-tat exchange between the countries that has helped push relations towards a new post-Cold War low.

Russian diplomats were

working to vacate the properties over the weekend, including the six-storey consulate.

“We treat these developments as a blatantly hostile act, a grave violation by Washington of international law,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said of the US order, which was made in late August in retaliation for Moscow cutting the United States’ diplomatic presence in Russia.

“We urge the US authorities to come to their senses and immediately return the Russian diplomatic facilities,” the Ministry added on its website. “Otherwise the USA will bear total blame

for the ongoing degradation of the relations between our countries.”

Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, said that US authorities had told Moscow that they expected Russia to sell the facilities, TASS state news agency reported.

Relations between the two nations have been badly strained since Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine, developments which led Washington to impose sanctions on Russia.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

South African Deputy President admits affair

S

outh Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted having an extra-marital affair, but denied reports of multiple affairs.

Speaking after allegations about his private life were published in newspapers, he accused political opponents of trying to smear him.

Ramaphosa is planning to contest the leadership of the governing African National Congress (ANC).

President Jacob Zuma steps down from the post later this year.

Ramaphosa’s private emails were apparently hacked into to prove an affair between him and a medical doctor.

The emails reportedly suggest he also had a series of affairs with young wom-

South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa

en, and had unprotected sex.

The deputy president admitted he had had an affair with a doctor eight years ago, but said the other women named in connection with him were students he and his wife supported to further their education.

Ramaphosa had tried to block publication of the allegations in the courts, arguing that his private affairs were not in the public interest.

“I had a relationship with only one person and it ended. I dealt with it with my wife,” Ramaphosa told South Africa’s Sunday Times.

“I have to be prevented at all costs from ascending to the position of President of the ANC. Some have even said it will be over their dead bodies.

“I have not committed any crimes, I have not stolen any money, I have not looted state resources. But I am being targeted and smeared.”

The leader of the ANC automatically becomes the party’s candidate for president of the country.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Pervez Musharraf vows to return for Bhutto murder trial

Frankfurt defuses massive WWII bomb after evacuating 60,000

G

erman explosives experts defused a massive World War Two bomb in the financial capital of Frankfurt on Sunday after tens of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes.

The compulsory evacuation of 60,000 people was Germany’s biggest such manoeuvre since the war, with more than a thousand emergency service workers helping to clear the area around the bomb, which was discovered on a building site last week.

The evacuation area included two hospitals, care homes, the Opera House and Germany’s central bank, the Bundesbank, where US$70 billion in gold reserves are stored underground. Police maintained security at the building.

The all-day effort took longer than planned but officials expressed relief that residents would start returning home before sundown and that the operation would not disrupt business today. The work by bomb technicians start-

ed later than scheduled because some residents refused to leave the evacuation area despite fire chiefs warning that an uncontrolled explosion would be big enough to flatten a city block. Police said they took stragglers into custody to secure the area.

More than 2000 tonnes of live bombs and munitions are discovered each year in Germany, more than 70 years after the end of the war. (Excerpt from Reuters)

P

An anti-terrorism court branded Musharraf an absconder for going to Dubai [File: Arif Ali/Getty Images]

akistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf says he will return from self-imposed exile in Dubai to face a “fabricated” trial for the murder of ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Musharraf’s announcement came on Sunday, days after the Rawalpindi AntiTerrorism Court pronounced him a fugitive in the trial for his alleged involvement in the 2007 assassination of

Bhutto, the country’s first female Prime Minister.

“I will certainly come back to Pakistan and face the trial as and when I am medically fit,” Musharraf said in a statement. “I have been framed in the Benazir Bhutto murder case by way of political victimisation, while I had nothing to do with her untimely and tragic death.

The court branded Musharraf an absconder and ordered the confiscation of

his property. The verdicts were the first handed down since Bhutto was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack nearly a decade ago, sparking street violence and plunging Pakistan into months of political turmoil.

In 2010, a United Nations report accused Musharraf’s government of failing to give Bhutto adequate protection and said her death could have been prevented.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, september 4, 2017

ARCHIE

ARIES

Set the stage for change.

(March 21- Look for opportunities and April 19) take control of your desti-

ny. Personal changes will lead to greater confidence.

Relationships and romance are featured.

Be careful how you handle TAURUS friends, children or a loved (April 20- one. Emotions will be difficult May 20) to control, and showing signs of stubbornness will not work in your favor. Offer positive alternatives.

dilbert

Initiate positive changGEMINI (May 21- es at home or work to make June 20) your life easier. Don’t miss out on an opportunity just because you are scattered or difficult to get along with. Stay focused.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Take any opportunity you get to travel or learn something new and different. The impact such an experience will have on you will encourage you to make unique lifestyle changes.

A professional or budgetary change will give you an opportunity to restructure your life and raise your standard of living. Celebrate with someone you love.

Put in the time and you VIRGO will reap the rewards. Don’t (Aug. 23limit what you can do just beSept. 22) cause someone puts high demands on you. Dismiss what isn’t necessary.

Expand your interests and LIBRA (Sept. 23- participate in events that will Oct. 23) help you engage in serious discussions and promote physical activity and new friendships. Love is on the rise, and romance is encouraged.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — FERRETED

SUDOKU

Get serious about what SAGITTARIUS you want to achieve. A realis(Nov. 23- tic attitude, strength, courage Dec. 21) and the willingness to act will lead to victory. Romance is in the stars.

(FERRETED: FER-it-ed: Uncovered and brought out by searching) Average mark 16 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 21 or more words in FERRETED? The list will be published tomorrow.

Go over details carefulCAPRICORN ly. Whether you are dealing (Dec. 22- with a legal, financial or medJan. 19) ical issue, ask questions until you feel confident that you can make a good decision.

SATURDAY’S WORD — TOPSAIL tail taps toil topi oast opal pail past patio patois

pilot pistol pita plait plat plot posit post postal sail

salt silo silt slap slat slip slit slop slot soap

soil spat spilt spit splat split spoil spoilt spot stoa

stop alit also alto atop iota last lisp list lost

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Look for unusual alternaSCORPIO tives. You’ll face opposition (Oct. 24at home and work that could Nov. 22) strike an emotional chord. Try hard not to retaliate. You’re best off remaining secretive and targeting your objective.

solution for Last Published Puzzle Change is good.

AQUARIUS Communicate and collaborate (Jan. 20- in order to come up with ideas Feb. 19) and plans to change your routine for the better. Romance is on the rise.

You’ll have plenty to PISCES (Feb. 20- think about when it comes March 20) to your professional choices. Don’t make an impulsive move. Negotiate until you get the best deal. Your intuition won’t mislead you.

MONDAY, september 4, 2017

Bhuvneshwar, Kohli inspire India to 5-0 sweep

I

ndia piled further m i s e r y on Sri Lanka with victory on Sunday to complete a 5-0 one-day international series success.

S r i Lanka’s woes worsfol-

ened lowing yet another defeat in the fifth one-day international against a Virat Kohliinspired India as the tourists completed a series whitewash.

Having achieved a 3-0 clean sweep in the Test meetings, India made it 5-0 in the ODIs with a dominant six-wicket win at the Premadasa Stadium, where captain Kohli chalked up his 30th ODI hundred in 186 innings.

That knock placed him joint second on the all-time list with Ricky Ponting, who reached the tally in 365 innings.

Kohli’s 110 not out ensured the hosts’ 238 all out – their highest score of the series – was knocked off by the 47th over.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had earlier claimed a

maiden five-for to undo the hard work of Lahiru Thirimanne (67) and Angelo Mathews ( 5 5 ) , w h o forged Sri Lanka’s first century stand of t h e rubber.

An a b y s m a l collapse s a w the final seven wickets tumble for the addition of just 53 runs.

Thirimanne and Mathews aside, only skipper Upul Tharanga made a contribution of note with the bat, his brisk 48 off 34 balls – featuring nine fours – setting an example that the majority of his team-mates failed to follow.

The tourists’ response did not start well, with Rohit Sharma (16) and Ajinkya Rahane (5) dismissed inside eight overs.

But Kohli took the innings by the scruff off the neck and punished some particularly ordinary bowling, as a chastened Milinda Siriwardana went for 14 off one of his overs.

Manish Pandey (36) and Kedar Jadhav (63) were the only other wickets to fall as the home side failed to halt

India’s inevitable march to victory, with MS Dhoni the other not out batsman as Kohli fittingly scored the winning run with a single down to long-off.

Sri Lanka’s only hope of salvaging any pride from India’s visit hinges on the solo Twenty20 clash on Wednesday. (Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka Innings (50 overs maximum) N Dickwella †c & b Kumar 2 WU Tharanga (c) c †Dhoni b Bumrah 48 EMDY Munaweera c Kohli b Kumar 4 HDRL Thirimanne b Kumar 67 AD Mathews c †Dhoni b Kuldeep Yadav 55 TAM Siriwardana c Thakur b Kumar 18 PWH de Silva run out (†Dhoni/ Chahal) 9 A Dananjaya st †Dhoni b Chahal 4 PM Pushpakumara b Bumrah 8 MVT Fernando not out 7 SL Malinga c sub (KL Rahul) b Kumar 2 Extras 14 (b 4, lb 3, nb 1, w 6) TOTAL 238 all out (49.4 Overs, RR: 4.79) Bowling: B Kumar 9.4-0-42-5, 6-0-48-0, JJ SN Thakur Bumrah 10-0-45, Kuldeep Yadav 10-0-40-1, KM Jadhav 4-0-20-0, YS Chahal 10-0-36-1 Fall of wickets:1-14 (N Dickwella, 2.6 ov), 2-40 (EMDY Munaweera, 6.2 ov), 3-63 (WU Tharanga, 9.2 ov), 4-185 (HDRL Thirimanne, 38.5 ov), 5-194 (AD Mathews, 41.1 ov), 6-205 (PWH

E

India Innings (target: 239 runs from 50 overs) RG Sharma c Pushpakumara b Fernando 16 AM Rahane c Munaweera b Malinga 5 V Kohli (c) not out 110 MK Pandey c Tharanga b Pushpakumara 36 KM Jadhav c †Dickwella b de Silva 63 MS Dhoni †not out 1 Extras 8 (lb 4, nb 1, w 3) TOTAL 239/4 (46.3 Overs, RR: 5.13) Did not bat: JJ Bumrah, YS Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, B Kumar, SN Thakur Bowling: SL Malinga 8-1-351, MVT Fernando 7-0-40-1, A Dananjaya 10-0-49-0, AD Mathews 3-0-140, PM Pushpakumara 10-0-40-1, TAM Siriwardana 4-028-0, PWH de Silva 4.3-0-29-1 Fall of wickets:1-17 (AM Rahane, 4.4 ov), 2-29 (RG Sharma, 7.3 ov), 3-128 (MK Pandey, 25.1 ov), 4-237 (KM Jadhav, 46.1 ov)

match. However, a brilliant fight back by the tourists led by a double century from Shai Hope produced a surprise five-wicket win for the Windies at Headingly and left the series up for grabs.

“We never got sucked into the argument that they were ripe for another beating after that first Test. Sometimes, when one team gets on a roll — like we did on that third day when 1 9 Stuart Broad

level headed into the third

wicke t s fell at Edgbaston — it can be hard for the other team to stop,” Broad said via

his column with English publication Daily Mail.

The bowler went on to highlight the fact that the closeness of the series could be an added advantage as the team prepares to face Australia later this year.

“Lord’s has now become do or die. Yes, we’d rather

Vertonghen toasts Belgium’s World Cup qualification

de Silva, 42.6 ov), 7-212 (A Dananjaya, 44.6 ov), 8-228 (PM Pushpakumara, 46.5 ov), 9-228 (TAM Siriwardana, 47.2 ov), 10-238 (SL Malinga, 49.4 ov)

England ready for winner-take-all showdown with Windies – Broad

ngland pace bowler Stuart Broad claims the team is ready for the challenge of a winner take all showdown against the West Indies in the third and final Test at Lords on Thursday.

After a dominating innings and 209 runs win in the first Test at Edgbaston

by England, few would have expected the series to be

19

have wrapped up the series by now, but to be pitched into a high-pressure battle in our last Test before the Gabba on November 23 is no bad thing. Not only is a series up for grabs, but there’s a chance for guys to book a place on the flight to Australia. It’s exciting.” (Sportsmax)

T

An embrace after a hard-fought victory

hibaut Courtois hopes lessons are learned from Belgium’s hard-fought win in Greece, as Jan Vertonghen celebrated World Cup qualification.

Goal-scorer Jan Vertonghen hailed Belgium’s qualification for the 2018 World Cup, while Thibaut Courtois held up Sunday’s crucial 2-1 win over Greece as a blueprint for them to follow in Russia.

Roberto Martinez’s side struggled to break down their hosts in Piraeus for 70 minutes until Vertonghen thumped home a long-range effort - only to see Zeca equalise in quick time.

As brief as their celebrations were cut short, Belgium were joyous again as Romelu Lukaku capped a crazy five-minute period of an otherwise dour game by heading home Thomas Meunier’s cross to book Belgium’s ticket to the tournament.

Vertonghen acknowledged that a tense affair could have gone either way, but was determined to toast Belgium’s success.

“The Greeks came out dangerous,” he is quoted as saying by Het Nieuwsblad.

“They used many long balls, played well on the counter and developed two

or three very good chances.

“Our game was not good, but we are qualified.

“We had a slow pace and could hardly find the space.

In the second half we got more space and we scored a goal, but it could have fallen on the other side.

“We’ll fly back right now, but we’re going to have a drink!”

Courtois had to make saves in the first half from Anastasios Donis and Kostas Stafylidis as Belgium failed to make the most of dominating possession and territory.

The Chelsea goalkeeper believes the Red Devils could come up against similarly staunch defences in Russia and must find ways to break through grittier opponents.

“If we had gone behind, it’s a completely different story,” Courtois added, having also criticised the quality of the pitch.

“We won with character, we kept going until we made it 1-2.

“Of course, the pitch is not the only reason we kept the ball too much instead of playing around.

“When we tried that, immediately there were three or four Greeks on us, we did not get space. We must try to find a solution in Russia against teams that are so strong.” (Sportsmax)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, september 4, 2017

Sharapova sent tumbling out of US Open by clinical Sevastova M

aria Sharapova’s grand slam return ended in the fourth round of the US Open following defeat to Anastasija Sevastova.

Maria Sharapova was sent tumbling out of the US Open as Anastasija Sevastova produced a display of clinical efficiency to come from behind for a 5-7 6-4 6-2 fourth-round victory.

Sharapova’s first appearance at a grand slam since returning from a doping ban lasted just four matches, Sevastova proving the more composed under pressure to reach the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows for the second year in succession on Sunday.

The five-time major champion’s campaign began with an impressive victory over second seed and contender for the title Simona Halep, but copious errors proved costly

Maria Sharapova

against Sevastova – seeded 16th.

Sharapova took a comfort break after the Latvian

Anastasija Sevastova

forced a decider and surrendered her serve twice in succession to lose the chance to win her second

US Open title.

The Russian gave an early indicator of her desire when she won a gutsy point

after rushing back and changing hands to return a cross-court volley with a lob in game three.

She took the first break with a backhand down the line but relinquished her advantage with a long forehand, however a sensational return clinched the opening set against Sevastova’s serve. The Latvian moved clear after fending off a break point in game two and she was able to retain that for the remainder of the set, silly mistakes from Sharapova enabling her to force a third.

Sharapova changed her outfit but she was unable to halt Sevastova’s momentum, the sweetest of dropshots positioning her for a 3-0 lead which a skewed hit from Sharapova gave her.

The former world number one reduced the deficit despite struggling with a blister on her finger and the 16th seed punished her, wrapping up the match at the fourth time of asking and setting up a lasteight clash with Sloane Stephens.

Ambrose cautions Hope to choose hard work over talent

W

est Indies bowling legend Sir Curtly Ambrose has encouraged rising star Shai Hope to continue to work hard and not depend upon talent to achieve success.

Hope was the toast of the town in several cricketing quarters after scoring a double hundred in a win over England in the second Test at Headingley last week. Hopes diligence not only proved to be a record

for the ground but helped the team to its first Test win on English soil in almost 20 years.

Ambrose, who had been highly critical of the team following a disappointing first Test loss, while admitting that the 21-year-old was a huge talent, encouraged Hope to stay committed and focused.

“Good knocks by Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope whom I have [paid] a lot of

[attention to]. He [Hope] has a lot of talent and I hope this is the turning point but it’s all about hard work because talent only takes you so far.

“Dedication, commitment, the self-belief and the confidence that you can do it, you need that to succeed and Shai Hope has got talent and ability and once he is willing to work hard he will become one of the greats,” Ambrose told the Antigua Observer.

(Sportsmax)

Bad light halts play in Windies, Leicestershire tour match

B

ad light halted play between the West Indies and Leicestershire as the twoday game ended in a draw at Grace Road on Sunday.

In pursuit of the West

Indies 377 for 7 declared on day one, Leicestershire made 70 for 1 behind Harry Dearden’s unbeaten 42. His opening partner 18-yearold Sam Evans was the only wicket to fall on the day af-

ter edging an Alzarri Joesph ball to Shai Hope at Gully.

Dearden, 20, hit seven fours in reaching his score off just 45 balls.

Pacer Shannon Gabriel showed plenty of speed, but

haven’t been scoring runs got time in the middle, and that’s what it’s all about in these conditions,” Law said.

(Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD

Alzarri Joseph

The West Indies team

took no wickets and conceded 21 runs from four overs.

On day one Shimron Hetmyer struck and unbeaten 128 and Shane Dowrich 108 as the West Indies managed to put a competitive total on the board before de-

claring.

Despite a premature end to the encounter, West Indies head coach Stuart Law described the game as beneficial to the visitors.

“The first day worked out well for us - the boys who

West Indies 1st Innings 377-7 declared Leicestershire 1st Innings HE Dearden not out 42 ST Evans c SD Hope b Joseph 18 AM Ali not out 6 Extras 4 (nb 3, w 1) TOTAL 70/1 (12.1 Overs) Yet to bat: EJH Eckersley (c), TJ Wells, ZJ Chappell, RJ Sayer, D Klein, RA Jones, GT Griffiths, MH McKiernan, DN Butchart, HJ Swindells † Bowling-ST Gabriel 4-0-21-0, ML Cummins 6-1-35-0 AS Joseph 2.1-0-14-1 Fall of wickets: 1-61 (ST Evans, 10.5 ov)

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21

“I deserve Test team recall” – Gayle

W

est Indies batting star Chris Gayle has continued to make the case for a recall to Test cricket following a threeyear break from the format.

The big left hander has more recently been known for his exploits in T20 cricket but remains one of the most successful in the longest format of the game. In 103 Tests

matches, Gayle has scored an impressive 7214 runs at an average of 42.18, having blasted 15 hundreds, including a pair of triple centuries.

Despite no longer being at the peak of his career at 37-years-old, the player believes there is still more for him to do in the format and looks forward to a recall.

“Even if it’s a farewell ‘match, as

I’ve mentioned before in previous interviews, yeah, even if it’s a farewell match,” Gayle said.

“If I can’t manage it, so be it. But I’m still looking forward to playing a Test match. I don’t want to walk away and just retire like that from Test cricket…and I really actually deserve that based on what I’ve actually don’t over the last few years,”

he added.

“As long as the body allows me to play, I will play.”

A recent agreement between Cricket West Indies and the senior players will allow several of them to return to both One Day Internationals and Test cricket formats, it, however, remains to be seen I Gayle will earn a recall. (Sportsmax)

Canada blank Boyz 2-0 in friendly international

T

ORONTO, Canada — They vowed it before the kick-off, and at the end of the game, the Canadians got their sweet revenge over Jamaica in their friendly international at the BMO Field here last night.

In their 2-0 victory, Anthony Jackson-Hamel (16th minute) and Jonathan Osorio (30th) ensured that the North Americans avenged their 1-2 loss to the Reggae Boyz in their quarter-finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Glendale, Arizona, in July.

Jamaica had progressed in the tournament to reach Jamaica’s Romario Williams missed a gilt-edged chance on the stroke of the final where they were half time beaten 2-1 by champions the USA. grace at different areas of the penBefore some 20,000 fans inside alty box. the home venue of Toronto FC on Against those promising eara cool evening, Jamaica never got ly forays, the Boyz went behind in warmed up enough to replicate the the 16th minute when veteran deform that led to their surprise run fender Jermaine Taylor’s casual atto their second consecutive Gold tempted pass to Michael Binns was Cup final. intercepted by the dangerous David Still they had chances to score Junior Hoilett, who dribbled inside goals and they never made the best the danger area before laying off the of their one-man advantage after ball for Anthony Jackson-Hamel the Canadians lost teen sensation to slot home unmarked from close Alphonso Davies to a red card in the range at the back post.

77th minute after being on the pitch At the other, the 57th-ranked for only eight of those minutes.

Jamaicans looked on course for an He got a straight red card after equaliser in the 21st minute when kicking Jamaica defender Damion Alvas Powell shook off his marker to Lowe in the face while both players trigger a right-sided assault. were on the ground in an off-theThe slippery Kelly then picked ball incident. up his part of the script, weaved his In defence, Jamaica never way further forward, before setting seemed coordinated and smooth as Fisher goalward, but the busy midthey can be, which gave their oppo- fielder’s final effort lacked sting. nents the confidence to test them Hoilett, who is of Jamaican roots down the flanks and through the and was once a target of the Reggae middle with some regularity.

Boyz, was a mean customer down Jamaica’s first move forward the rightside and the Jamaican decame in the third minute with de- fenders found it difficult to conjure fender Lowe’s lock-picking pass the appropriate response to deal which opened up space for Dane with this constant threat throughKelly to make his favourite run be- out. hind the defence, but he could not And Jamaica fell further beget the required purchase on his hind in the 30th minute when left-footed effort after correctly cut- Ricardo Morris gave away possesting inside the box. sion in a strategic area in his own Again the Jamaicans gave a hint half of the pitch, and the Canadians of danger in the seventh minute made them pay when hometown boy when they surged forward in num- Jonathan Osorio made easy work of bers with Romario Williams, Oneil a subtle flick on by Jackson-Hamel, Fisher and Kelly threatening, but as the disorganised Jamaican deneither could deliver the coup de fence stood motionless appealing for

a non-existent off-side call.

And as the clock wound down in mere seconds to the half-timeE break, Jamaica squandered a glorious chance to slash the deficit.

The move started with Kemar Lawrence’s floated curler to the back post to an onrushing and well-positioned Romario Williams, but the ball was not met with the killer instinct in such a mouthwatering situation, and the ball bubbled awkwardly and the opportunity was lost.

After a lull in notable offensive fireworks, the Boyz looked enterprising in minute 62 with slick passing around the opponents’ 18yard box, which ended with Ewan Grandison’s 20-yard blast that flew into the Canadian night sky.

Jamaica had another promising look in on goal in the 80th minute when right-back Powell’s cheeky through ball put Vishinul Harris in on goal, but the Arnett Gardens man’s right-footed poke was deflected for a corner by an alert defender.

From the resulting corner kick, central defender Taylor, who ventured forward, was wide open at the far post, but his stab at the ball was easily blocked by the goalkeeper.

(Jamaica Observer)

Boldon picks van Niekerk F

o r m e r Trinidad and Tobago track star Ato Boldon has picked South African Wayde van Niekerk as the man most likely to fill the shoes of recently retired sprint superstar Usain Bolt.

Bolt, now 31, called time on over a Retired Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt with decade of dominance Ato Boldon (inset) the track. at the London World “I think it will be Wayde van Championships last month leaving what most agree will be huge shoes Niekerk, because I think he has the ability to dominate his event (400m) to fill.

The Jamaican an eight-time the way Bolt did. I was disappointOlympic and 11 time World ed to hear him say he won’t double Championship gold medallist was at a championship again,” Boldon not only the sport’s biggest name told NBCSports. “The sport needs on the track but off it as well, gar- that. He was a lean from pulling off nering plenty of attention for what something that had been done bewas often presented as a fun-lov- fore only once, so I hope he’ll reconing, magnetic personality. While sider. He doesn’t have the same exVan Niekerk does not possess the trovert personality as Bolt, but it’s off track persona of Bolt, Boldon is partly the media’s job to continue to confident the athlete can do more make him appealing to the global than enough to bring attention to audience.”(Sportsmax)

22 Christian Samuels warns Stokes joins Trinbago to 'stay on the boundary' Knight Riders W GUYANATIMESgy.COM

MONDAY, september 4, 2017

─ replaces injured McCullum

T

he Trinbago Knight Riders have called up Daniel Christian for the remainder of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League.

Christian will replace Brendon McCullum who suffered an arm injury in the Knight Riders’ match against the Barbados Tridents on Saturday 2 September.

Christian is an experienced all-rounder who has played in T20 leagues around the world, including the T20 Blast in England where he captained Nottinghamshire to the title this week. He has also played 34 times for Australia in white ball formats.

Speaking of Christian’s arrival Knight Riders’ coach, Simon Katich, said:

Daniel Christian

“Losing an iconic figure like Brendon to injury is clearly a massive loss to the team, but in Daniel we have a proven match-winner who has just led a side to a T20 title in England.

We hope that he can make it two trophies in two weeks with us in Trinidad.”

est Indies' Marlon Samuels has advised England's Ben Stokes to "stay on the boundary" as the pair prepare to meet again this month.

There could be an entertaining subplot to England's limited-overs contests against West Indies after Marlon Samuels renewed verbal hostilities with old foe Ben Stokes.

Samuels was the subject of repeated sledging from all-rounder Stokes during England's tour of the Caribbean in 2015.

Their duel culminated in the veteran memorably getting his own back by ironically saluting his opponent after Stokes was dismissed in the second Test in Grenada.

A meeting in the decider of last year's World Twenty20 did not end well for the England man, either.

Samuels watched from the non-striker's end as Carlos Brathwaite hit four consecutive sixes off Stokes in the last over to win the final in style.

England's Benn Stokes (left) and West Indies's Marlon Samuels

Together with fellow veteran Chris Gayle, Samuels has been recalled to the Windies' squad for the lone Twenty20 and five subsequent one-day internationals this month.

And the 36-year-old did not miss an early opportunity to score points ahead of a new instalment in their entertaining rivalry.

"With me coming to England, he should stay on the boundary when I'm batting, as far away as possible," Samuels told the Guardian.

The two-time World T20 winner did suggest the

forthcoming matches could pass more amicably, with one key condition.

"As long as he keeps quiet," Samuels said.

"I won't start anything, so if anything does happen, that means he has said something to me first. I'm going to come to England and be a good boy… at least for the start of it.

"He wanted to take me on a couple of years ago.

"He started something and I told him he better be prepared to finish it. But I saw him during the IPL this year and he didn't say anything. I hope he can continue on that path. If not, I have things in place."

Signed, sealed delivered! ─ Allicock to receive monthly stipend from GOA

2017 GCB/Jaguars 3-Day League Round 1 day 2

Upper Corentyne, Upper Demerara/ East Bank record wins in low-scorers

U

pper Corentyne and Upper Demerara/ East Bank, two teams that failed to impress in the 2016 Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Jaguars Franchise League 3-day Competition, each got their 2017 campaign off to a positive start with respective wins against West Berbice and Georgetown inside two days yesterday.

At the Lusignan Community Centre Ground, talented national all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford expressed his ruthless self with the ball as he claimed his second five wicket haul inside two days to spearhead his

were rattled out for 103 in their second innings, leaving Georgetown a small matter of scoring 83 runs to win the match. Gajanan Suknanan with 3-22 was Georgetown’s leading bowler, as Ershad Ali top scored with 32.

However, led by West Indies player Vishual Singh, Upper Demerara/East Bank and Rutherford had other plans. He captured 5-11 to finish with match figures of 12-59.

Left arm chinaman bowler Totaram Bishun also contributed to the win on the back of quality spin bowling which was responsible for

Sherfane Rutherford

Gudakesh Motie

Upper Demerara/ East Bank side to a narrow 26-run win in a low-scoring match which saw 409 runs being scored in four completed innings.

Scores in the match: Upper Demerara/East Bank 115 and 103; and Georgetown 135 and 56.

Resuming the second day on 20-2, the eventual winners

four wickets, while Renaldo Ali-Mohammed claimed the other scalp.

In another slim margin of victory, Upper Corentyne defeated West Berbice by two wickets, chasing 104 for victory at Bush Lot Ground, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Scores in that match read: Upper Corentyne 152 and

Guyana Olympic Association President KA Juman-Yassin congratulates Youth Commonwealth Games silver medalist Keevin Allicock at the GOA Headquarters Saturday. The 18-year-old flyweight boxer will receive a monthly stipend from the GOA until the 2020 Olympics

A Anthony Adams

Totaram Bishun

106-8; and West Berbice 93 and 163.

West Berbice improved to score 163 all out in 55.5 overs in their second innings on day two. However, it was not enough after an abysmal batting display in their first innings.

Their second innings’ batting was led by Javed Karim, who scored 30 off 73 balls, Quacy McPherson 25 from 69, Steffon Adams 21 from 21 balls, and Raffel Estraido 21 from 33 balls.

Former national under-19 skipper Sean Pereira picked up three wickets for 36 runs, Eon Hooper 2 for 60, and Demetri Cameron 2 for 33.

Andy Mohan scored 37 and Anthony Bramble 18 to propel Upper Corentyne to the target.

Gudesh Motie gave his team a chance at claiming a come-from-behind victory after mesmerizing the Upper Corentyne batsmen to bag six wickets.

Meanwhile, at Albion

Community Development Centre Ground, Essequibo leads reigning champions Lower Corentyne by 207 runs with four second innings’ wickets remaining heading into the final day.

Resuming the day on 623, Lower Corentyne were dismissed for 175, with Kassim Khan (43) the principal scorer, while Jason Sinclair and Alex Algoo scored 31 and 30 respectively.

Bowling for Essequibo, the underdogs, Anthony Adams picked up 6-51, while Akinie Adams picked up 2 wickets for 47 runs.

Essequibo were 108-6 when the second day’s play concluded, with Kevon Boodie 31 and Kemol Savoury 26 the only batsmen to reach double figures so far in their team’s second innings.

Raul Johnson has so far claimed three wickets, while Kevin Umrao has snatched two scalps.

Play resumes tomorrow at approximately 09:00 hours.

fter his exploits at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas earlier this year, where he came away with a silver medal, young Boxer Keevin Allicock has now been promised funding by the Guyana Olympic Association.

At a press conference held on Saturday morning, President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), K. A. Juman-Yassin, noted that after witnessing Allicock’s fights, he was impressed with his attacking style of fighting and his countenance as a mannerly young man.

“The Guyana Olympic Association will be giving Keevin Allicock $70,000 for the month of September to assist with his training, diet, equipment et cetera,” Yassin declared.

This initial funding will be very useful to Allicock, especially this month, as he prepares for participation in the South American Youth Games, to be held in Chile later this month.

The GOA President further revealed that, as of October, the GOA will be giving Allicock $40,000 month-

ly, and this can continue until the next Olympics in 2020, based on Allicock’s commitment to the sport.

Yassin explained that the onus will be on Allicock to ensure that he dedicates himself to boxing, and not stray away from the straight and narrow path. According to Ninvalle, the GOA gesture will go a far way in allowing the young pugilist to remain focused on the sport.

Ninvalle reasoned that Allicock has created a path in which other locals can follow. “I sense, and if you look at his yearly income, he may be earning more than most local professional boxers,” Ninvalle said.

Allicock also came in for high praise from Chef-demission to the Bahamas, Dr Karen Pilgrim, as she expressed admiration for the way the boxer carried himself, and for his behaviour.

A three-man boxing team comprising the flyweight Allicock, the 16-yearold lightweight Christopher Moore and Coach Terrence Poole will attend the games, which are scheduled from September 27th to October 8 in Santiago, Chile.

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MONDAY, september 4, 2017

23

2017 Hero CPL

Warriors seal final playoff spot ─ as Lewis blasts Patriots to landslide victory

E

vin Lewis blasted the second fastest fifty in Hero’s Caribbean Premier League history, while Carlos Brathwaite grabbed four wickets to secure a 10-wicket landslide victory for St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots over hosts Barbados Tridents last night at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Inserted by the Patriots, the Tridents started well, and within five overs had registered 46 impressive runs; then they lost their first wicket. After the departure of Nicholas Pooran for 21 and his openi n g partner Dwayne Smith for 17, the Barbados Tridents never recovered, their middle and lower orders offering feeble resistance

TEAM

against the guile of Carlos Brathwaite, who claimed 4-15 from his quota of four overs, and Tambraiz Shamsi, who took 2-14 from four overs. Mohammas Hafeex and Mohammed Nabi also bowled well to claim a wicket each.

T i o n Webster struck two sixes and a four in a top score of 32 from 25 deliveries,

istered a total of 128 from their 20 overs.

In pursuit of this small target, the Patriots’ opening pair of Evin Lewis and skipper Chris Gayle wasted no time in propelling their team to 129 in just seven overs, 108 of which came in boundaries (12 sixes and 9 fours).

However, it was Lewis, with 97 from 32 deliveries, who smoked the Tridents’ bowlers with 11 sixes and six fours, while Gayle played the supporting role, scoring 22 from 14 balls.

Lewis’s man-of-thematch effort ensured

SCOREBOARD

while Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson, 14, and Wayne Parnell, 12 not out, were the only other batsmen to reach double figures as the Tridents reg-

Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis after the win

MP

MW

ML

MT

MD

N/R

PT

NRR

1

Trinbago Knight Riders

10

8

2

0

0

0

16

1.168

2

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots

10

6

3

0

1

0

13

0.325

3

Jamaica Tallawahs

10

6

4

0

0

0

12

-0.416

4

Guyana Amazon Warriors

10

5

5

0

0

0

10

0.834

5

Barbados Tridents

10

4

6

0

0

0

8

-0.943

6

St Lucia Stars

10

0

9

0

1

0

1

-1.644

M

Patriots finished second in the points’ standings at the end of the preliminaries. They thus will play Trinbago Knight Riders in the first playoff match on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Jamaica Tallawahs will play Guyana Amazon Warriors in the second playoff match on Wednesday.

The winner from the first playoff will move into the final, while the loser will play the winner from playoff two for another shot at securing a final berth.

S Dhoni created history as he became the first wicketkeeper in history to effect 100 stumpings in One Day Internationals during the fifth game between India vs Sri Lanka in Colombo MS Dhoni created history on Sunday during the fifth ODI versus Sri Lanka in Colombo as he became the first wicketkeeper in ODI history to effect 100 stumpings as a wicketkeeper.

Dhoni reached the landmark during the 45th over of the Sri Lankan innings. Akila Dananjaya came down the track and looked to slog legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal but he missed and the India wicketkeeper effected the stumping. Before the match, Dhoni was level with former Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara who also had 99 stumpings to his name in ODI cricket.

Dhoni achieved this feat in his 301st ODI and in his 296th

innings. In addition to 100 stumpings, Dhoni is third in the alltime list of dismissals with 383, behind Sangakkara (483) and Australian keeper Adam Gilchrist (472).

The former skipper’s milestone summed up India’s continued domination in the series as Sri Lanka once again suffered a collapse to be bowled out for 238. The hosts lost their last seven wickets for 53 runs and are now staring at a 5-0 whitewash at home for the first time ever. If they suffer a whitewash with this scoreline, their chances of automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup will take a hit.

Dhoni has been in top form in the ongoing ODI series against Sri Lanka, having scored unbeaten 45, 67 and 49 in his last three innings including in his 300th ODI. Recently, the wicketkeeper-batsman was in the news as there was speculation over his chances to make it to the 2019 World Cup

Barbados Tridents Innings (20overs maximum) DR Smith c †Thomas b Brathwaite 17 N Pooran †b Mohammad Hafeez 21 T Webster c Mohammad Nabi b Brathwaite 32 KS Williamson c Mohammad Nabi b Shamsi 14 EJG Morgan b Mohammad Nabi 2 SK Springer lbw b Shamsi 3 KA Pollard (c) c Hilfenhaus b Brathwaite 7 RA Wiggins c †Thomas b Brathwaite 3 WD Parnell not out 13 DK Jacobs run out (Mohammad Hafeez/Cottrell) 8 Wahab Riaz not out 0 Extras 7 (lb 2, w 5) TOTAL 120/8 (19 Overs, RR: 6.31) Bowling: BW Hilfenhaus 3-034-0, SS Cottrell 3-0-16-0, Mohammad Hafeez 3-0-241, CR Brathwaite 4-0-15-4,

Mohammad Nabi 3-0-23-1, T Shamsi 4-0-14-2 Fall of wickets:1-43 (N Pooran, 4.6 ov), 2-43 (DR Smith, 5.1 ov), 3-74 (KS Williamson, 10.5 ov), 4-76 (EJG Morgan, 11.3 ov), 5-81 (SK Springer, 12.4 ov), 6-102 (KA Pollard, 15.2 ov), 7-105 (T Webster, 15.6 ov), 8-107 (RA Wiggins, 17.3 ov)

St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots Innings (target: 129 from 20 overs) CH Gayle (c) not out 22 E Lewis not out 97 Extras 10 (nb 4, w 6) TOTAL 129/0 (7 Overs, RR: 18.42) Did not bat: Mohammad Hafeez, DC Thomas †, JL Carter, CR Brathwaite, Mohammad Nabi, BW Hilfenhaus, BA King, SS Cottrell, T Shamsi Bowling: Wahab Riaz 2-0-27-0, WD Parnell 1-0-18-0, DR Smith 1-0-13-0, RA Wiggins 1-0-24-0, KA Pollard 1-0-240, DK Jacobs 1-0-23-0

squad. However, thanks to his performances in the series, his chances of being part of Virat Kohli’s side for the mega-event have increased.

During his 300th ODI, Kohli presented a platinum bat to Dhoni and said, “Ninety per cent of us started our careers under you. It is an honour to give this memento to you. You will always remain our captain.”

Before the start of the fifth ODI, India head coach Ravi Shastri said, “Dhoni is a massive influence on the team. He is a living legend in the dressing room and an ornament to the game. By no means or by any stretch of imagination he is finished or even half finished yet. If anyone thinks so, they are mistaken and they have another one coming. There are in for some surprises. The old dog has plenty to offer.”(Hindustantimes)

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

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2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League

Pg 23

Warriors seal final playoff spot ─ as Lewis blasts Patriots to landslide victory

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